Two weeks ago, the Trump administration made it clear that it will stop funding Harvard with billions of dollars if the prestigious university doesn’t change its policy. The White House only wants to keep paying if it can interfere in the university’s selection process of students, staff and researchers. All of the university’s diversity measures are to be ended.
Court case
Harvard refused to give up its independence and launched a court case against the decision. Pending the ruling, the board did announce on Monday that it has chosen to change the name of the university’s DEI department to the Community and Campus Life department.
Sherri Ann Charleston, chief diversity officer at Harvard, said that the university has to bring people together based on their backgrounds and perspectives, not because they belong to a certain ethnic group. Charleston’s position has also been renamed: she is now a ‘chief community and campus life officer’.
Harvard also promised to adapt its policy in response to two critical internal reports on anti-Semitism and Islamophobia on campus. According to Harvard President Alan Garber, everyone should be able to feel at home at the university.