Archived News by President Gay - 91�� President

Personal News

melissa — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 18:21:39 +0000

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,
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It is with a heavy heart but a deep love for Harvard that I write to share that I will be stepping down as president. This is not a decision I came to easily. Indeed, it has been difficult beyond words because I have looked forward to working with so many of you to advance the commitment to academic excellence that has propelled this great university across centuries. But, after consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.
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It is a singular honor to be a member of this university, which has been my home and my inspiration for most of my professional career. My deep sense of connection to Harvard and its people has made it all the more painful to witness the tensions and divisions that have riven our community in recent months, weakening the bonds of trust and reciprocity that should be our sources of strength and support in times of crisis. Amidst all of this, it has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor—two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am—and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus.
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I believe in the people of Harvard because I see in you the possibility and the promise of a better future. These last weeks have helped make clear the work we need to do to build that future—to combat bias and hate in all its forms, to create a learning environment in which we respect each other’s dignity and treat one another with compassion, and to affirm our enduring commitment to open inquiry and free expression in the pursuit of truth. I believe we have within us all that we need to heal from this period of tension and division and to emerge stronger. I had hoped with all my heart to lead us on that journey, in partnership with all of you. As I now return to the faculty, and to the scholarship and teaching that are the lifeblood of what we do, I pledge to continue working alongside you to build the community we all deserve.
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When I became president, I considered myself particularly blessed by the opportunity to serve people from around the world who saw in my presidency a vision of Harvard that affirmed their sense of belonging—their sense that Harvard welcomes people of talent and promise, from every background imaginable, to learn from and grow with one another. To all of you, please know that those doors remain open, and Harvard will be stronger and better because they do.
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As we welcome a new year and a new semester, I hope we can all look forward to brighter days. Sad as I am to be sending this message, my hopes for Harvard remain undimmed. When my brief presidency is remembered, I hope it will be seen as a moment of reawakening to the importance of striving to find our common humanity—and of not allowing rancor and vituperation to undermine the vital process of education. I trust we will all find ways, in this time of intense challenge and controversy, to recommit ourselves to the excellence, the openness, and the independence that are crucial to what our university stands for—and to our capacity to serve the world.
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Sincerely,
Claudine Gay

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President Claudine Gay steps down

william — Tue, 02 Jan 2024 15:29:00 +0000

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Season’s Greetings from President Claudine Gay

melissa — Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:31:14 +0000

A 2023 holiday message from President Gay

Season's Greetings

View .

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Statement on Congressional Hearing

melissa — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 14:43:02 +0000

There are some who have confused a right to free expression with the idea that Harvard will condone calls for violence against Jewish students. Let me be clear: Calls for violence or genocide against the Jewish community, or any religious or ethnic group are vile, they have no place at Harvard, and those who threaten our Jewish students will be held to account.

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Vice President and General Counsel Diane Lopez

melissa — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 22:12:41 +0000

Dear Colleagues and Friends,
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Earlier today, Diane Lopez announced her plans to retire as the University’s vice president and general counsel, following three decades of extraordinary service to Harvard.
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Diane has brought to all she does not just keen intelligence but sound judgment, not just a strong devotion to principle but a thoughtful sense of pragmatism, not just a capacious understanding of the law but a deep appreciation for Harvard as an academic institution and a human community. Since joining the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) in 1994, she has expertly handled an exceptional variety of legal matters and has helped guide Harvard through innumerable challenges with an incisive mind and a steady hand. Her legal practice has ranged across such diverse domains as health care and research policy, student affairs and faculty matters, the regulation of human subjects research and the accessibility of online resources, technology transfer and digital privacy, safeguarding opportunities for international students and seeking to sustain Harvard’s ability to admit a diverse student body, to name just some of her areas of focus. Whatever the object of her attention, she has always kept Harvard’s mission in mind and has always given advice with an eye toward strengthening the enterprise of education and research.��
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I am especially grateful to Diane for her leadership in building such an able and impressive team in the Office of the General Counsel, as well as her partnership during my years as a dean and in this first year of my presidency. I know I speak for many colleagues across Harvard, present and past, when I express my thanks for the wise advice she has offered, for the solutions to problems she has addressed, and for the collegiality with which she has approached her roles—first as a university attorney, then as deputy general counsel, and most recently as vice president and general counsel. Her contributions, which you can read more about in the��, have been invaluable, and we will miss her.
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I will be taking steps soon to launch a search for Diane’s successor, including the appointment of an advisory committee to help guide the process. Meanwhile, I am pleased to say that one of Diane’s most respected colleagues in the OGC, Eileen Finan, has agreed to serve as interim general counsel from March 1 until a new vice president and general counsel takes office. Eileen has served with dedication and distinction since joining the OGC in 1997. I have worked closely with her in the past, and I’m very grateful for her willingness to step in. Her wide-ranging legal experience, her integrity and professionalism, and the trust she has earned from colleagues across Harvard promise to serve the University well in the interval between Diane’s departure and the arrival of her eventual successor.
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For today, I hope you will join me in congratulating Diane Lopez for her remarkable service to all of us and in wishing her all the best as she looks ahead to her retirement.
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Sincerely,
Claudine Gay
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President
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P.S. Advice and nominations regarding the search for a new vice president and general counsel may be sent, in confidence, to��vpgcsearch@harvard.edu.

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Combating Antisemitism

melissa — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 19:21:36 +0000

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,

The past few weeks have been marked by pain and fear for many of us. Harvard rejects all forms of hate, and we are committed to addressing them. I am writing today to share updates on the ongoing work to combat antisemitism in our community, as well as to describe the hard work still in front of us.

As President, I affirm our commitment to protecting all members of our community from harassment and marginalization, and our commitment to meeting antisemitism head-on, with the determination it demands. Let me reiterate what I and other Harvard leaders have said previously: Antisemitism has no place at Harvard. While confronting any form of hatred is daunting, the challenges we face tackling antisemitism are made all the more so by its pernicious nature and deep historical roots. But we are committed to doing the hard work to address this scourge.

As I announced in a speech on October 27, I have assembled an Antisemitism Advisory Group of trusted voices, including faculty, alumni, students, and leaders of Harvard’s Jewish community. They are: Geraldine Acuña-Sunshine, AB ’92, MPP ’96, and Vice Chair of the Harvard Board of Overseers; Thomas Dunne, Harvard College Dean of Students; Dara Horn, AB ’99, PhD ’06, former Gerard Weinstock Visiting Lecturer of Jewish Studies in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences; Kevin J. Madigan, Winn Professor of Ecclesiastical History at Harvard Divinity School, and Eliot House Faculty Dean; Martha L. Minow, EdM ’76, former Dean of Harvard Law School, and 300th Anniversary University Professor at 91��; Eric M. Nelson, AB ’99, Robert M. Beren Professor of Government in the Harvard Faculty of Arts and Sciences; Nim Ravid, Harvard College Class of ’25; and David Wolpe, Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School, and the Max Webb Emeritus Rabbi of Sinai Temple.

This group’s wisdom, experience, and moral conviction will help lead us forward. The Advisory Group will work closely with me, guided by Provost Alan Garber and with the help of the School deans, to develop a robust strategy for confronting antisemitism on campus.

Some of the specific steps we are implementing in connection with our ongoing work with the Advisory Group are as follows.

We have started the process of examining how antisemitism manifests within our community and crafting a plan that addresses its complex history, including acknowledging this specific form of prejudice in Harvard’s past, in a comprehensive manner.
We will implement a robust program of education and training for students, faculty, and staff on antisemitism broadly and at Harvard specifically. As part of this program, we will provide education about the roots of certain rhetoric that has been heard on our campus in recent weeks, and its impact on Jewish members of our community, to help us all better recognize antisemitism in daily life and interrupt its harmful influence.
We are redoubling our efforts to make students aware that appropriate avenues exist to report feelings of fear or incidents causing harm, including through for incidents of bias, to ensure that all members of our community have access to and feel comfortable voicing their concerns.
We are working diligently to ensure the physical, as well as psychological, safety of all members of our community. The 91�� Police Department (HUPD) continues to detect, assess, and respond to any threats made against any members of our community, including those that are made online. This monitoring is carried out by the HUPD, including through a hotline that is monitored 24/7 to assess and address online harassment and threats.
The Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging has convened several community support sessions over the past month in collaboration with Harvard Hillel and Counseling and Mental Health Services, and a newly formed Inclusion and Belonging Student Leadership Council has broad representation, including from the Jewish community. In addition, we have been working to increase education around antisemitism and Jewish history—the Harvard Heritage Month workgroup voted unanimously this year to include both Holocaust Remembrance Day and Jewish American Heritage Month observations as part of the official University-wide calendar.
We are seeking to identify external partnerships that will allow Harvard to learn from and work with others on our strategy.

The concrete steps above represent only the starting point for our work. In the coming days and weeks, various of our Schools will be announcing their own efforts and commitments in this regard. We will also work with the Advisory Group to explore areas such as how we can foster broader student and community engagement; how we can build on the initial steps taken by the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging to more fully integrate antisemitism into the work of that office; and how we might strengthen scholarship at Harvard on antisemitism, bringing our teaching and research mission to this effort. Combating antisemitism and hate speech demands a sustained commitment across every facet of University life, including being responsive to input from the full Harvard community. If you have thoughts, feedback, or other suggestions, please share them with us via email at AntisemitismAdvisoryGroup@harvard.edu.

We are grateful for the work of the Advisory Group members, who are giving their time and energy to help us tackle these critical issues. While success may not come quickly or easily, we know that we must continue to press forward in combating antisemitism, and the efforts and expertise of our Advisory Group members are crucial to achieving our goals.

I also want to reiterate Harvard’s absolute commitment to the safety and wellbeing of every member of our community. Harvard has been and is a place of civil behavior and civil discourse. We do not condone—and will not ignore—antisemitism, Islamophobia, acts of harassment or intimidation, or threats of violence. I have heard from many community members about the incident on the Harvard Business School campus on October 18. That incident is being investigated by the FBI and the 91�� Police Department. Consistent with our standard practice, once law enforcement’s inquiry is complete, the University will address the incident through its student disciplinary procedures to determine if University policies or codes of conduct have been violated and, if so, take appropriate action.

Finally, I have heard concerns from some about how this important work relating to antisemitism will bear on Harvard’s vital commitment to free expression. Combating antisemitism and fostering free expression are mutually consistent goals. We are at our strongest when we commit to open inquiry and freedom of expression as foundational values of our academic community. At the same time, our community must understand that phrases such as “from the river to the sea” bear specific historical meanings that to a great many people imply the eradication of Jews from Israel and engender both pain and existential fears within our Jewish community. I condemn this phrase and any similarly hurtful phrases.

Harvard was founded to advance human dignity through education. We inherited a faith in reason to overcome ignorance, in truth to surmount hate. Antisemitism is destructive to our mission. We will not solve every disagreement, bridge every divide, heal every wound. But if we shrink from this struggle, we betray our ideals.

Sincerely,
Claudine Gay

President

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Safety and Wellbeing Resources for the Harvard Community

aaron — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 22:15:09 +0000

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,

The last several weeks have been difficult and challenging for our community. The conflict in Israel and Gaza continues to raise anxiety, fear, and concern. We’ve seen an increase in hateful and reckless rhetoric. We’ve seen individuals within our community targeted by acts of harassment and intimidation. I want to assure you that we do not condone and will not ignore acts of harassment or intimidation, or threats of violence. We take seriously the safety and wellbeing of every member of our community.

This week, we launched a new Harvard support and resources website with information for any community member who is struggling or in need of support. These resources include contact information for assistance if your physical safety is threatened, you are targeted by online harassment, or you need support for your mental health and wellbeing. It also has information on other support resources and services and guidance for faculty and staff seeking assistance for themselves or for students or other community members.

Among these resources is a new guide to “.” This guide is a resource for any community member who may have been identified and targeted by online abuse, harassment or intimidation. It helps identify different forms of online harassment and offers steps and advice on protecting against it, as well as, for example, templates for “Take Down Requests.” 91�� Information Technology (HUIT) also offers on other electronic threats.

The University also has policies and processes in place for reporting acts of antisemitism, Islamophobia, or other acts of hate.

91�� Police Department (HUPD) has increased its security presence on campus and continues to monitor online activity for the potential of any specific threat to the campus community or individuals on campus.

In addition to the resources above, contact HUPD immediately at 617-495-1212 if your physical safety is threatened at any time or if you receive an email that contains a physical threat to your life, safety, or property.

Within each of Harvard’s Schools, we continue to put in place and raise awareness of local resources for community members. For students, we encourage you to be in touch with your School’s to connect with additional support, including for assistance in times of crisis. Additionally, the 24/7 Cares Line (617-495-2042) and offer mental health support. Harvard Human Resources offers additional wellbeing supports for faculty and staff through its programs and .

For those who may be feeling isolated or are looking for opportunities to connect with others, the Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (OEDIB) continues to offer spaces for directly impacted communities and individuals in the coming weeks.

We are committed to the wellbeing of every community member during this challenging time. If you need support or are facing a crisis situation, reach out to a trusted friend or colleague, or faculty or staff member, and connect with resources that are in place to help you.

Sincerely,

Meredith Weenick
Executive Vice President

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Our Shared Responsibilities

aaron — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 21:17:51 +0000

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,

In recent weeks, tragic events abroad have inflamed divisions on our campus. While free inquiry remains a bedrock academic value, Harvard will not tolerate any activity that violates the safety of our community members, and we will not hesitate to enforce our policies and hold those who engage in such conduct accountable.

This idea is not a new one. Fifty-three years ago, Harvard had the courage and clarity to adopt the —a seminal document that still guides us. Many in our community may be unaware of the Statement, and I urge you to read it in full.

The document emerged in the late 1960s, during a time of unrest not unlike today. Amid that discord, our predecessors affirmed the rights vital to academic freedom, while also extracting from the tumult an opportunity for reflection, renewal, and growth. The Statement protects free expression, while articulating the special duties we owe one another as members of a scholarly community. It recognizes that unfettered rights, absent responsibility, tend toward chaos.

The Statement affirms the liberties that animate our mission—the right to speak and be heard, to question and dissent, to pursue truth through discovery. But it also outlines the responsibilities required to exercise those freedoms—to debate with empathy, to protest with care, to treat all with dignity. Protest and dissent have an honored place here, but not behavior that infringes on the physical safety and security of others. No one at Harvard has the right to threaten or endanger others, under any circumstance. This is a basic prerequisite for education and discovery, and on this point, the Statement is unequivocal.

As President, I take these rights and responsibilities seriously, especially in divisive times. Our University’s purpose is to advance human knowledge for society’s betterment. The University-Wide Statement on Rights and Responsibilities establishes the conditions in which such work can thrive. It serves as a foundation for other policies, procedures, and programs, including the steps we take to ensure the safety and security of our campus and to support community wellbeing. Meredith Weenick, Executive Vice President, will write later today with information on safety and security, and resources available to our community.

In the days ahead, I ask you to read the Statement’s words, which are as resonant and important today as when they were first codified. More importantly, I ask that you honor them. Exercise your freedoms, but do so with wisdom and respect. Defend your ideas, but not at the cost of another’s welfare. And know that any act that violates the rights of other members of our community not only tears at our social fabric but carries serious consequences.

By upholding our enduring ideals—academic freedom, reasoned dissent, respect for the dignity of others—we fulfill our University’s purpose and create a safe, inclusive environment where open inquiry can flourish.

Sincerely,
Claudine

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Our Choices

melissa — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 23:32:46 +0000

A Message from President Claudine Gay

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,

As the war in Israel and Gaza continues, I hope you will take a moment to watch this video.

Best,
Claudine

Transcript: This is a moment of intense pain and grief for a great many people in our community and around the world. I feel that pain and grief myself.

As members of a university community, we have a choice.

We can fan the flames of division and hatred that are roiling the world.

Or we can try to be a force for something different and better.

People have asked me where we stand. So, let me be clear.

Our University rejects terrorism – that includes the barbaric atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.

Our University rejects hate—hate of Jews, hate of Muslims, hate of any group of people based on their faith, their national origin, or any aspect of their identity.

Our University rejects the harassment or intimidation of individuals based on their beliefs.

And our University embraces a commitment to free expression.

That commitment extends even to views that many of us find objectionable, even outrageous. We do not punish or sanction people for expressing such views. But that is a far cry from endorsing them.

It’s in the exercise of our freedom to speak that we reveal our characters.

And we reveal the character of our institution.

We can issue public pronouncements declaring the rightness of our own points of view and vilify those who disagree.

Or we can choose to talk and to listen with care and humility, to seek deeper understanding, and to meet one another with compassion.

We can inflame an already volatile situation on our campus.

Or we can focus our attention where it belongs on the unfolding tragedy thousands of miles away. We can ask ourselves how, as human beings, we can be helpful to people who are desperately trying to protect themselves and their families, people who are fighting to survive.

How we go forward as a community is up to each of us.

I have spent most of my career at this institution. I have seen the people of Harvard come together despite their differences.

I know that we are capable of meeting this moment—and meeting one another—with grace.

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Safety and Wellbeing of the Harvard Community

melissa — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 01:09:19 +0000

Dear Harvard Community Members,

Events in Israel and Gaza continue to provoke anxiety, concern, and uncertainty throughout our community. Those feelings have been amplified over the last several days by hateful and reckless rhetoric, inside and outside of Harvard, that has increased tensions and sown fear, especially among our students.

I write tonight to assure you that the University takes seriously the safety and wellbeing of every member of our community. We do not condone or ignore intimidation. We do not condone or ignore threats or acts of harassment or violence.

Officials within our Schools have been in contact with students to ensure they are aware of resources available to them if they are concerned about their physical safety or experience an immediate threat. Students should contact their School’s to connect with additional support, including for assistance in an emergency. The 24/7 Cares Line (617-495-2042) and offer mental health support.

91�� Police Department (HUPD) has stepped up its security presence on campus and continues to monitor online activity for the potential of any specific threat to the campus community or individuals on campus. HUPD is also coordinating closely with local, state, and federal authorities. As a reminder:

If you feel your physical safety is threatened at any time, contact HUPD immediately at 617-495-1212.

If you receive email(s) that contains a physical threat to your life, safety, or property, contact HUPD immediately at 617-495-1212.

If you need guidance on cyber harassment and other electronic threats, see from 91�� Information Technology (HUIT).

As we continue to feel the repercussions of the events taking place in Israel and Gaza across our community, I encourage all of us to treat each other with care, compassion, and mutual respect.

Sincerely,

Meredith Weenick
Executive Vice President

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Archived News by President Gay - 91�������� President

Personal News

President Claudine Gay steps down

Season’s Greetings from President Claudine Gay

Statement on Congressional Hearing

Vice President and General Counsel Diane Lopez

Combating Antisemitism

Safety and Wellbeing Resources for the Harvard Community

Our Shared Responsibilities

Our Choices

Safety and Wellbeing of the Harvard Community

Archived News by President Gay - 91�� President