Students Rally in Unofficial Celebrations, Express Frustration Over University’s Withdrawal of Support | The Harvard Crimson

Eight affinity groups at Harvard held graduation celebrations this week after the university denied them funding and access to campus venues. In an email sent on April 28, Harvard’s Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion announced this decision, shortly after rebranding itself as the “Community and Campus Life” office.

Despite the lack of support, these groups quickly rallied to raise significant funds for their events. For example, the Harvard Black Graduation, hosted by several Black community organizations at a local hotel, drew over 500 attendees. Award-winning journalist Nikole S. Hannah-Jones spoke at the event, expressing that students deserved more than the university’s abrupt decision.

Professor Cornell William Brooks from the Harvard Kennedy School also addressed the crowd, emphasizing that their identity and support needed no rebranding. “We are Black people. We love Black people. We love all people,” he stated.

Athena Lao, president of the Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance, shared how they managed to raise over $20,000 in just three weeks to make their celebration a reality, ensuring that 1,000 students received heritage stoles.

The university’s decision not to host these celebrations reportedly stemmed from a directive by the Department of Education, which required the cancellation of race-based events. This policy wasn’t public until late April, although internal discussions began as early as mid-March.

In contrast to last year, where ten affinity celebrations were officially hosted, only eight held events independently this year. While Jewish and Indigenous groups chose not to hold ceremonies, organizers for disability-awareness events had limited support but managed to secure resources for necessary services like American Sign Language interpretation.

During the events, voices from the community condemned the university’s actions. Halah Y. Ahmad, former president of the Harvard Muslim Alumni Alliance, spoke out against the leadership, saying they had surrendered their principles to external pressures.

Highlights from these ceremonies reflect a growing sentiment against perceived institutional shortcomings. A particularly pointed criticism came from Anthony A. Jack, author of “The Privileged Poor,” who insisted that, despite all obstacles, the students and organizers made these celebrations happen.

This incident underscores a larger trend in higher education where institutions are grappling with their commitments to diversity and inclusion against pressures from political and financial stakeholders. Recent surveys indicate that a significant number of students from marginalized backgrounds feel their institutions fail to support their cultural identities adequately. This situation raises important questions about academic freedom and the power dynamics at play.

These events remind us that community resilience can persist even in challenging circumstances, signaling the importance of solidarity among graduates.



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