About
Last week, Harvard University started fighting back against Trump's assault on higher ed. In this episode of #RaceClass, Jon and Arnie discuss why immediate praise for Harvard is premature. To deserve our praise, Harvard needs to do more than defend itself. It needs to leverage its near $60 billion endowment to defend all universities against unlawful federal interference. Harvard need not do it alone. Following the lead of thousands of university professors across the country, Harvard should create a mutual defense pact that unites all of our campuses to protect our fundamental right to free and open inquiry free from intimidation, harassment or discipline. Harvard also needs to practice what it preaches and cultivate free and open inquiry on its campus. A start would include revising its anti-harassment policies by rejecting the IHRA definition of antisemitism and clarifying that speech criticizing Israel, Zionism or antizionism is legitimate discourse that does not itself constitute antisemitism.