Our Harvard Can Do Better

The largest threat to academic freedom isn't "cancel culture"— it's power-based harassment that disrupts careers, limits scholarship, and damages our communities. Today we transmitted a community-written letter to @americanacad requesting it review Comaroff's membership. 1/3

For anybody concerned about the intellectual health of American universities, standing up to power-based harassment is critical. We hope @americanacad will recognize our shared values and take appropriate action. 3/3

You can read the letter here: ourharvardcandobetter.org/blog-3/to-the-…. John Comaroff's pattern of retaliation against those who speak out against his sexual misconduct— as credibly alleged in the ongoing lawsuit— is a clear threat to academic freedom. 2/3

The largest threat to academic freedom isn't "cancel culture"— it's power-based harassment that disrupts careers, limits scholarship, and damages our communities. Today we transmitted a community-written letter to @americanacad requesting it review Comaroff's membership. 1/3

New in @thecrimson: We asked Harvard faculty whether Professor John Comaroff, who was accused of sexual harassment, should have been allowed to return to teaching. The majority said no. This and more in the first installment of our annual Faculty Survey. thecrimson.com/article/2023/4…

Confronting Harvard's crisis of sexual violence requires optimism & urgency— especially from our administrators. Read our latest op-ed in @thecrimson. thecrimson.com/article/2023/4…

A federal judge denied all but one count of Harvard's motion to dismiss our lawsuit concerning Harvard's handling of sexual harassment & retaliation by Comaroff!!! If you want a breezy, 81 page read, here she is: drive.google.com/file/d/1IVvQh0…

NEW from myself & Rahem Hamid: Harvard Anthro professor and former chair @ajanthasub announced her move from Harvard to CUNY in Feb. Now, she tells @thecrimson a “major push factor” was poor administrative support in the wake of the Comaroff controversy. thecrimson.com/article/2023/3…

Our Demands: ourharvardcandobetter.org/demands

"Participants discussed in speeches & remarks during the action several policies — such as an independent rape crisis center, robust prevention efforts, real recourse, & comprehensive, survivor-centric sexual healthcare — would enable Hrvrd to work toward the promises it makes."

Coverage of our occupation in @thecrimson featured 3 paragraph's worth of Comaroff's HLS-based legal team trying to distract from the simple truth that Comaroff must resign & Harvard must take urgent action to stem the crisis of sexual violence on its campus.

Our goal today was to disrupt Harvard administrator’s workday— an entire 9-5. We didn’t know if we’d have the numbers or if cops would kick us out. Through solidarity, we held the building for 8 hours and left at 5pm. We’ll be back until Harvard takes this crisis seriously. -W

After 7 hours of protest, HUPD has encircled the building to block people from entering. We won’t be intimidated and will be here until the end!

At the halfway point of our occupation, members of @HUCTW and @hgsuuaw have given words of support virtually and by dropping by in-person. Heartened by this solidarity! Keep emailing Khurana: docs.google.com/document/d/1Tr…

Email Dean Khurana in solidarity: docs.google.com/document/d/1Tr…

Around 10am, Dean Khurana listened to students’ concerns and personal experiences for an hour. He could not name any specific action that has or will be done to address the crisis of sexual violence @Harvard. What will it take for @Harvard to act? Times up.

Support our work by writing a quick email to Dean Khurana in solidarity with protestors: docs.google.com/document/d/1Tr…

Some scenes from our ongoing occupation of University Hall. No more Comaroff, no more complicity!