Harvard Professors Call for Safeguarding Academic Freedom Amid Federal Negotiations

Nine distinguished Harvard professors have collectively urged the university's leadership to uphold the core principle of academic freedom amid ongoing negotiations with the federal government. In an open letter, they emphasized the importance of protecting scholarly independence and open inquiry. Two of the signatories participated in a discussion with Ali, highlighting the significance of higher education during the Trump administration. Theda Skocpol, a professor of government and sociology, emphasized that facts are inherently persistent and can shape individuals' values when they are receptive. Meanwhile, economist Rebecca Henderson from Harvard Business School asserted that private universities serve as vital centers for competition of ideas. The incident underscores the ongoing debate over academic autonomy at elite institutions.