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Harvard, Israel, and Academic Freedom

(Harvard Crimson) Lawrence H. Summers - In the "Global Engagement" section of the Harvard University website, I was surprised to see an op-ed by a research fellow at Harvard's Middle East Initiative proclaiming without qualification that "what is certain is that Israeli-Lebanese-Syrian-Iranian tensions and active warfare would not be a recurring problem, as in fact they are, had Israel responded to the Arab peace plan." While I find this assertion absurd, others would disagree, and it would, of course, be wrong for the university to censor either opinion in any way. Unfortunately, the official showcasing of a patently anti-Israel article is not an isolated example. Late last year, through some failure of administrative oversight, Harvard University Dining Services altered its procurement policy to avoid purchasing soda machines originating in the West Bank. The failure to maintain controls sufficient to prevent activists from hijacking the university's name and reputation in support of their objectives is a very serious issue. When Harvard allows its reputation to be attached to pernicious ideas, it raises the risk that they will be seen as legitimate. If Harvard is to lead on academic freedom, it is essential that we all feel free to assert our views but that our university protect with ferocity its reputation by preventing views demonizing Israel or any other country. The writer is President Emeritus of Harvard University.
2015-02-06 00:00:00
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