Over 1,000 Harvard affiliates have signed a petition urging the university to reinstate Mary T. Bassett as the director of the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights (FXB Center). This follows her recent dismissal sparked by ongoing tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
On Tuesday, Dean Andrea A. Baccarelli announced Bassett’s exit. She learned about her dismissal just hours before it was made public, with her departure taking effect on January 9. The number of signatories includes faculty members from several prestigious institutions, such as Columbia and Brown universities.
The petition criticized Bassett’s removal, suggesting it reflects a troubling trend of politically motivated decisions at Harvard. Earlier this year, two other faculty directors connected to the study of the Israel-Palestine conflict were also let go. The petition implied that dismissing Black leaders and scholars who champion human rights signals a troubling disregard for diverse viewpoints within academic spaces.
Baccarelli’s announcement also mentioned a shift in focus for the FXB Center towards children’s health. However, critics argue this change undermines the center’s previous work tackling structural racism and health disparities. They believe that moving away from these issues does a disservice to equity efforts, especially at a time when many advancements in social justice are being challenged.
The Harvard chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) echoed these sentiments. They warned that Bassett’s termination poses threats to academic freedom, straying from Harvard’s stated goals of promoting intellectual diversity. They noted that this situation mirrors earlier faculty removals and program changes that prioritize institutional comfort over scholarly integrity.
Adding to the complexity, an April report from an internal task force criticized the FXB Center for its perceived bias against Israel. Some students claimed the center’s scholarship lacked balance. Past pressures from the Trump administration even led to calls for an external review of the center, sparking debates on academic independence and external influence.
As the debate unfolds, this situation raises broader questions about the intersection of academia, politics, and human rights. Many educators are concerned that when institutions prioritize political pressures over scholarly integrity, the quality of education and research suffers.
For more insights on the impact of political decisions in academia, visit Inside Higher Ed.
