Harvard reassigning diversity center staff amid Trump admin squeeze
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Harvard alumni, students and faculty protest federal administration cuts outside of the Boston Moakley Federal District Courthouse on July 21. Photo: Heather Diehl/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Harvard is folding staff from its former offices for minority students, women and LGBTQ+ students into its new Office of Culture and Community, according to a Wednesday message from college officials.
The big picture: Harvard University has been locked in an ongoing battle with the Trump administration, as the government squeezes the Ivy League institution from all sides.
- The announcement impacts offices inside Harvard College, the undergraduate division of the university, rather than the educational institution as a whole.
Driving the news: The Harvard College Women's Center, the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations, and the Office of BGLTQ Student Life have been closed and their staff will be incorporated into a new foundation, a Harvard College spokesperson confirmed to Axios Thursday.
- The decision was announced Wednesday in an emailed letter sent from Danoff Dean of Harvard College David J. Deming and other campus leaders to all Harvard College staff.
- The foundation, per the email, will "offer additional services, including support for low-income and first-generation students; religion, ethics, and spirituality work; and our military and veterans programs."
- "All College services remain available to every student," read the email. All changes outlined in the email were effective as of its sending Wednesday, a Harvard College spokesperson confirmed.
Zoom out: The student-led Harvard Crimson reported that the websites for the centers were recently quietly dismantled.
- Links to the centers now redirect to a page for the Office of Culture and Community.
Catch up quick: In April, the Trump administration outlined its demands for the university, which included shuttering all diversity, equity and inclusion offices and programs.
- That month, Harvard announced it would rename its Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging to "Community and Campus Life."
Yes, but: After Harvard University officials resisted the government's demands, an administration task force announced it would freeze $2.2 billion in federal funds — and since then, the pressure campaign has only deepened amid ongoing court fights.
- Administration officials recently notified Harvard's accreditor that they found the school to be in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws. Trump signed an executive order in April to hold accreditors "accountable" for what he called "unlawful actions" related to DEI.
Zoom in: The Office Office of Culture and Community's website does not include specific pages for LGBTQ+ or minority students.
- It does, however, mention resources for military affiliates, first-generation and low-income students, as well as for "religion, spiritual practice, and meaning-making."
- The Harvard Foundation's page says it will "continue to serve the entire Harvard College community by ensuring that each student is treated with equal dignity and respect."
- The Wednesday email similarly concluded, "With this new structure, we embody our commitment to supporting our entire student body and fostering a community where people from all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences can learn, grow, and thrive together."
Go deeper: Foreign students consider fleeing Harvard after Trump threats, university says
