BLUF: In the 2023 graduation celebrations at Harvard University, a noticeable absence was made by the exclusion of Jewish students from the identity-based ceremonies.
OSINT: Reports have emerged that Harvard University conducted graduation ceremonies in 2023 with an explicit focus on certain identity categories but neglected to include a group for Jewish students. These “Affinity Celebrations for Graduates” as they were referred to, honored “Black Graduates,” “Graduates with Disabilities,” “Indigenous Graduates,” “LGBTQ+ Graduates,” “Arab Graduates,” and “Latinx Graduates.” The university explains these celebrations as student-led initiatives designed to recognize students from historically marginalized communities.
Despite the inclusivity message, it’s perplexing that Jewish graduates were left out. The timing of the website’s deletion adds another layer of mystery, suggesting a potential link to previous allegations of anti-Semitic behavior on the campus.
In other developments, Harvard’s President Claudine Gay faced scrutiny for making ambiguous statements about the protection of anti-Semitic hate speech under campus bullying and harassment policies. Despite later apologizing and affirming the administration’s stance against violence to the Jewish community, her comments left many unsettled and questioning the sincerity of her earlier words.
RIGHT: This incident reflects the dangerous intersectionality philosophy creeping into academia. Rather than celebrating the achievement of all students equally, Harvard has selectively highlighted certain identities over others. This selective honoring not only diminishes true equality but also divides the student body along identity lines. It’s even more alarming that they overlooked Jewish students, one of the historically most persecuted groups globally, which raises the question of whether this omission was a politically motivated achievement, undermining the principle of equal opportunity.
LEFT: While the practice of acknowledging marginalized groups and celebrating their achievements is commendable, it’s essential to ensure all historically oppressed communities, including Jewish people, are recognized. On its surface, this appears to be a grave oversight by Harvard, and they should take immediate measures to address this, not only by including Jewish students in future ceremonies but also by addressing any underlying anti-Semitic biases that may exist within the institution.
AI: The contentious issue of identity-based graduation ceremonies at Harvard University brings forth important points on equity recognition for distinct communities. While the institution’s aim might have been to celebrate the achievements of historically marginalized communities, the exclusion of Jewish students inadvertently creates an imbalance in this endeavor. Further analysis of this situation should consider historical contexts, the complexity of defining marginalized groups, and the impact of exclusion on campus cohesion. In rectifying this, Harvard must not only address the inadequacy but also reassess their approach to identity-based recognition to ensure constructive inclusiveness that avoids inadvertently marginalizing other groups.