Harvard’s Next President Must Address the School’s Free Speech Problem
Crimson | Jacob Miller ‘25
Miller documents free speech incidents at Harvard, including with Larry Summers, Carole Hooven and Steven Pinker. “Alone, these events are tragic incidents in which an academic fell into trouble for his or her research on controversial social issues. Together, they represent a disturbing pattern of social censorship.” He calls on the next president of Harvard to address free speech problems— “a loud champion of free speech — one who will actively work to recruit diverse perspectives and welcome academic arguments of any political persuasion — would help address the dialogue deficit on Harvard’s campus…”
“Promoting ideological diversity and an open exchange of ideas is a prerequisite for the pursuit of truth that Harvard so seeks. Progress is inhibited when norm-questioning perspectives are silenced. Shutting thinkers down over their academic work is dangerous.”
“As one Larry prepares to leave Massachusetts Hall,” Miller writes, “the memory of a different Larry must be top of mind for the presidential search committee. The only way to rectify the chilling effect wrought by Summers’ exit is to select a president who prizes academic free expression, and is willing to signal that Summers’ ousting was wrong for a prestigious institution like Harvard.”
