#harvard-university

#harvard-university

Harvard University officials have opened a secret disciplinary investigation into at least two students for their roles in drawing scrutiny to the relationship between the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the school's former president, Larry Summers, according to three people briefed on the matter. The students posted videos online showing Summers addressing students in a Harvard lecture hall about his connections to Epstein last month, and took credit for pressuring him to step away from teaching after the disclosures.

Last Tuesday afternoon, Dean Andrea Baccarelli at the Harvard School of Public Health sent out a brief message announcing that one of the country's most experienced and accomplished public health leaders, Dr Mary T Bassett, would step down as director of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights. The email struck a polite, bureaucratic tone, thanking her for her service and offering an upbeat rationale for a new focus on children's health.

"University Professors embody the academic excellence that Harvard seeks to nurture in every generation," said President Alan M. Garber. "Catherine, Claudia, Noah, and Cumrun are outstanding colleagues and superb University citizens. They represent not only the potential of individual scholars but also the timelessness of our mission to expand the frontiers of knowledge for the benefit of humanity. It is an honor to acknowledge their achievements and to celebrate their contributions to academia and to our community."

Gay's remarks, delivered at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in Amsterdam, are some of the most extensive she has given in public since her resignation. "Universities have come to rely on donors more desperately than ever, particularly as public support has diminished, and donors have come to expect more than just gratitude. They want influence. They want control. They want, in the language of our times, a seat at the table," she said.

Nearly all of the 58 students placed on probation - the highest number since at least the 2017-2018 academic year - were disciplined for participating in a November 2023 pro-Palestine occupation of University Hall and an April to May 2024 pro-Palestine encampment at Harvard Yard, according to the Crimson. An additional 31 students were "formally admonished" but not placed on probation.

The loss of an estimated $2.6 billion in federal funding at Harvard has meant that some of the world's most prominent researchers are laying off young researchers.

The State Department is investigating whether Harvard University will remain part of a government program that provides American visas for international students and researchers.

"This new office is part of the [university's] ongoing effort to break down silos, ensuring all members of our community are connected, supported and empowered to contribute to a thriving intellectual environment," Hoekstra wrote.

"Technology underpins every aspect of Harvard," said Klara Jelinkova, vice president and University chief information officer, who opened the event by praising IT staff for their impact across the University.