In an unexpected move that has heightened tensions within Harvard University, the institution’s highest governing body, the Harvard Corporation, announced on Wednesday that 13 students who participated in a pro-Palestinian encampment in Harvard Yard would not receive their degrees, despite a recent faculty vote to allow them to graduate.
The decision came as the university prepared for its annual Commencement ceremonies, a time traditionally marked by celebration and unity. However, this year, the celebratory atmosphere has been overshadowed by a fierce debate over the punishment of the students involved in the protest, which lasted 20 days and aimed to call attention to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
On Monday, 115 members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) voted to grant degrees to the 13 students, overriding a prior disciplinary action that had suspended or placed them on probation. This faculty vote, however, was ultimately nullified by the Harvard Corporation, which cited university policies that mandate students must be in “good standing” to graduate.
“Today, we have voted to confer 1,539 degrees to Harvard College students in good standing,” the Corporation stated. “Because the students included as the result of Monday’s amendment are not in good standing, we cannot responsibly vote to award them degrees at this time.”
The corporation’s stance has been met with significant backlash from both faculty and students. Professor Steven Levitsky, a prominent member of the faculty, warned of potential unrest. “I would expect a faculty rebellion, possibly a faculty rebellion against the entire governance structure, because there’s already a fair amount of mistrust toward the Corporation, to begin with,” Levitsky said.
Student protesters expressed their dismay, with many feeling betrayed by what they perceived as a reversal of an earlier understanding that leniency would be shown if they ended their encampment. The protest in Harvard Yard was initially met with threats of suspension and disciplinary action by interim President Alan Garber. The students decided to dismantle their tents, believing that this would result in a more lenient approach to their cases.
The corporation’s decision has resonated across campus, casting a shadow over the joyous graduation ceremonies. During Class Day, several speakers took the opportunity to address the disciplinary actions. Tarina K. Ahuja ’24 and Shruthi S. Kumar ’24, marshals for the Class of 2024, read the names of the disciplined students, describing the class as “incomplete” without them.
“We want to recognize that they have been unable to celebrate their senior week and Commencement and participate in graduation in the same way as the rest of us,” Ahuja said. “As we stand here today, we want to recognize the pain and anxiety of these students and their families this week.”
The Harvard Corporation defended its decision, emphasizing the importance of adhering to university regulations. “We also considered the inequity of exempting a particular group of students who are not in good standing from established rules, while other seniors with similar status for matters unrelated to Monday’s faculty amendment would be unable to graduate,” the Corporation wrote.
“We fully support the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ stated intention to provide expedited review, at this time, of eligible requests for reconsideration or appeal,” the Corporation wrote. “We will consider conferral of degrees promptly if, following the completion of all FAS processes, a student becomes eligible to receive a degree.”
Relevant articles:
– Harvard Defies Faculty Vote to Block 13 Students From Graduating, Bloomberg, 05/23/2024
– Harvard Corporation Breaks With Faculty, Votes To Block 13 Anti-Israel Encampment Protesters From Graduating, The Daily Wire, 05/22/2024
– Harvard board bars 13 pro-Palestine student protesters from graduating, overruling faculty, The Hill, 05/22/2024
– Live Updates: Harvard’s Class Days, Harvard Crimson, 05/22/2024
– Palestinian students from receiving degrees, The Boston Globe, 05/22/2024
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