The worst problems at Harvard are in the humanities departments at Harvard's main campus and some of the graduate programs such as those at Harvard Divinity School, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Law School. But there are problems at the hospitals too, and a 6 January The Editors article (https://www.theeditors.com/p/harvard-faculty-doctors-demand-release-of-suspected-hamas-terrorist-harvard-medical-school-anti-israel-palestine-faculty) was part of the documentation that led to cancellation of an educational program about medicine in conflict zones that looked like it would have been biased against Israel.
A 16 March The Editors article listed the federal demands to Columbia, and a comment fleshed out the specifics of how these could apply to Harvard: https://www.theeditors.com/p/the-antisemitism-crisis-on-campus-clarence-schwab. I was told in September that much of what Harvard was doing to fix these problems was behind the scenes, but that was 6 months ago and today all President Garber had to say was that, in the words of the Harvard Crimson, "he would welcome the opportunity to work with the White House" (https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/4/1/garber-email-funding-review/). I would have hoped for more demonstrable progress before push came to shove.
As one of the leaders of the effort to restore ROTC at Harvard, Columbia and other elite universities, I remember well that there were also some issues with reconciling the federal government and the professors. I hope that the efforts on the antisemitism issue can succeed with the same atmosphere of a marriage of respect that we achieved and not a shotgun wedding.
Have to laugh at the meltdown at Harvard now. Here are headlines of articles and op-eds in the Harvard Crimson for just today alone (Tues, 4/1). Think Trump has their attention?
Billions in Federal Funding at Stake
Garber Promises To ‘Engage’ With Federal Antisemitism Task Force After Funding Threats
Center for Middle Eastern Studies Leaders Dismissed for Alleged Lack of Balance in Events on Palestine, Harvard AAUP Says
Trump Administration To Review Billions in Federal Funding to Harvard
300 Alums Call on HLS to Denounce Trump’s Attacks on Law Firms
17 Senators Call for Release of HMS Researcher Kseniia Petrova
COLUMNS
I Was Hillel President. Trump Claims His Funding Cuts Help Jews — He’s Wrong.
Trump Is Suppressing Campus Speech. Harvard’s Response Is Shameful.
EDITORIALS/OP EDS
Harvard Must Exercise Caution Before Cutting Ties With Birzeit
Students Blacklisted, Students Arrested: All Voices of Reason, Speak Up Now
Harvard’s Targeting of CMES Should Alarm All of Us
Harvard has been shy about such data recently because its numbers have been lowered by its DEI policies. But at least until recently, Harvard was highly successful in getting many of the top scoring applicants. Harvard graduates in previous decades were very successful after graduation, but it is not clear how much of that was Harvard admitting many good people, Harvard educating well, or Harvard having a good brand. All of those are at risk if Harvard fails to fix its problems now.
My impression is that legacy admissions decrease the average score of those admitted but increase the metrics of success post-graduation. Some have even argued that legacy admissions are a benefit to non-legacy admittees because they open up access to networks of influential people.
"The IAF airstrikes earlier this month on the T-4 airbase near Palmyra were designed to warn foreign powers against building up a military presence in Syrian air bases, The Times of Israel has learned. Last week, a Turkish Defense Ministry source told Sky News Arabia that the country is looking into establishing a base in Syria to train the new Syrian army. A senior IDF official told The War Zone last week that “any significant Turkish military presence, especially in strategic locations like Palmyra, could be perceived as a threat to Israeli security interests.”"
The wording in the federal government statement "Harvard University and its affiliates" (https://www.gsa.gov/about-us/newsroom/news-releases/hhs-ed-and-gsa-initiate-federal-contract-and-grant-review-of-harvard-universit-03312025) is clearly a warning to the Harvard-affiliated hospitals that their funding could be at risk. Federally funded research based at the Harvard hospitals is administered through the hospitals, but research at Harvard Medical School itself is administered through Harvard.
The worst problems at Harvard are in the humanities departments at Harvard's main campus and some of the graduate programs such as those at Harvard Divinity School, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard Law School. But there are problems at the hospitals too, and a 6 January The Editors article (https://www.theeditors.com/p/harvard-faculty-doctors-demand-release-of-suspected-hamas-terrorist-harvard-medical-school-anti-israel-palestine-faculty) was part of the documentation that led to cancellation of an educational program about medicine in conflict zones that looked like it would have been biased against Israel.
A 16 March The Editors article listed the federal demands to Columbia, and a comment fleshed out the specifics of how these could apply to Harvard: https://www.theeditors.com/p/the-antisemitism-crisis-on-campus-clarence-schwab. I was told in September that much of what Harvard was doing to fix these problems was behind the scenes, but that was 6 months ago and today all President Garber had to say was that, in the words of the Harvard Crimson, "he would welcome the opportunity to work with the White House" (https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/4/1/garber-email-funding-review/). I would have hoped for more demonstrable progress before push came to shove.
As one of the leaders of the effort to restore ROTC at Harvard, Columbia and other elite universities, I remember well that there were also some issues with reconciling the federal government and the professors. I hope that the efforts on the antisemitism issue can succeed with the same atmosphere of a marriage of respect that we achieved and not a shotgun wedding.
I'm definitely not an expert on these matters, but I question whether Israel has the capability to use a MOAB.
Have to laugh at the meltdown at Harvard now. Here are headlines of articles and op-eds in the Harvard Crimson for just today alone (Tues, 4/1). Think Trump has their attention?
Billions in Federal Funding at Stake
Garber Promises To ‘Engage’ With Federal Antisemitism Task Force After Funding Threats
Center for Middle Eastern Studies Leaders Dismissed for Alleged Lack of Balance in Events on Palestine, Harvard AAUP Says
Trump Administration To Review Billions in Federal Funding to Harvard
300 Alums Call on HLS to Denounce Trump’s Attacks on Law Firms
17 Senators Call for Release of HMS Researcher Kseniia Petrova
COLUMNS
I Was Hillel President. Trump Claims His Funding Cuts Help Jews — He’s Wrong.
Trump Is Suppressing Campus Speech. Harvard’s Response Is Shameful.
EDITORIALS/OP EDS
Harvard Must Exercise Caution Before Cutting Ties With Birzeit
Students Blacklisted, Students Arrested: All Voices of Reason, Speak Up Now
Harvard’s Targeting of CMES Should Alarm All of Us
Is Harvard's reputation for academic excellence deserved? How well do Harvard students perform on standardized tests compared to students elsewhere?
Harvard has been shy about such data recently because its numbers have been lowered by its DEI policies. But at least until recently, Harvard was highly successful in getting many of the top scoring applicants. Harvard graduates in previous decades were very successful after graduation, but it is not clear how much of that was Harvard admitting many good people, Harvard educating well, or Harvard having a good brand. All of those are at risk if Harvard fails to fix its problems now.
How much effect do legacy admissions have?
My impression is that legacy admissions decrease the average score of those admitted but increase the metrics of success post-graduation. Some have even argued that legacy admissions are a benefit to non-legacy admittees because they open up access to networks of influential people.
Israel's attacks in Syria are to prevent Turkey from threatening Israel from Syrian territory:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-strikes-in-syria-and-lebanon-were-a-message-to-regional-powers/
"The IAF airstrikes earlier this month on the T-4 airbase near Palmyra were designed to warn foreign powers against building up a military presence in Syrian air bases, The Times of Israel has learned. Last week, a Turkish Defense Ministry source told Sky News Arabia that the country is looking into establishing a base in Syria to train the new Syrian army. A senior IDF official told The War Zone last week that “any significant Turkish military presence, especially in strategic locations like Palmyra, could be perceived as a threat to Israeli security interests.”"
Israel is not being paranoid, see "Turkey’s Erdogan appears to issue open threat to invade Israel over war in Gaza" at https://www.timesofisrael.com/turkeys-erdogan-appears-to-issue-open-threat-to-invade-israel-over-war-in-gaza/