The Price of Cannabis Prohibition: Profits, Public Health, and the Case for Legalization
Dr. Akwasi Owusu-Bempah—criminologist, sociologist, and co-author of “Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization and the Fight for Racial Justice”—has long argued that cannabis policy is deeply intertwined with racial justice. In a JFK Jr. Forum at the Harvard Institute of Politics two years ago, he and Tahira Rehmatullah spotlighted the unequal impact of prohibition and the […]
Finding Value at Tommy’s
“Hey Tommy!” is a phrase one will hear many shoppers say to the cashier at Tommy’s Value on a typical afternoon. Located at 47 Mount Auburn St., this family-run market has become a community staple in an area that lacks convenience stores, serving students and Cambridge locals alike since 2002. Though it briefly shuttered during […]
“Been There, Done That.”
The implications of using medical marijuana as an alternative to prescription drugs are certainly not a new discussion topic. “We’ve been using cannabis for 5,000 years,” Harvard Medical School instructor and medical cannabis specialist Dr. Peter Grinspoon pointed out in an interview with the Harvard Independent. “If you look at the big picture in human […]
Marijuana: Social Aid or Secret Poison?
Note: To protect their privacy, the students referenced throughout the article wished to be anonymous. They are instead referred to by the pseudonyms “Ben” or “Mary.” “An addict, any addict, can stop using drugs, lose the desire to use, and find a new way to live,” reads the motto of Narcotics Anonymous, a nonprofit founded […]
Harvard Pushes Back Against Federal Regulations, Faces $2.2B in Cuts
On April 14, the Trump administration announced that it would freeze $2.2 billion in multi-year research grants and halt a $60 million contract with Harvard University—a response to the University’s lack of compliance to what the Harvard administration described as an “unprecedented” list of demands. Federal officials characterized Harvard’s response as an example of elite […]
Tripping in the Classroom
Next semester, Harvard undergraduates will have the opportunity to explore the science behind psychedelics in the classroom. Dr. Chloe Jordan, currently a lecturer at Boston University and an instructor in Harvard’s Psychology Department, will teach Neuro 101EE: “Neuroscience of Psychedelic Experiences.” Her course will explore the neurological mechanisms, moral implications, and societal impacts of hallucinogenic […]
Pot Perspectives with Jeffrey Miron
It’s true. I swore off the thought of concentrating in economics after a brief stint in Harvard College’s Economics 10A: “Principles of Microeconomics” last semester—the supply-and-demand graph shifts didn’t spark any Marie Kondo-esque joy. But hey, it’s the Independent’s renowned Weed Issue, so I figured I might as well venture back into the department to […]
Welcoming the 2025 HUA Co-Presidents
The 2025 Harvard Undergraduate Associate election voted Abdullah Shahid Sial ’27 and Caleb N. Thompson ’27 as the co-presidents for the upcoming academic year. The pair ran on a campaign to make the HUA actively student-first, resonating with voters amid campus uncertainty and demands for better campus life decisions. Sial and Thompson clinched the election […]
Democracy on the Brink: Technology, Reliability, and the Future of Democracy in Latin America
The Institute of Politics JFK Forum recently led a conversation examining how democratic institutions—legislatures, political parties, and judicial systems—have been slow to adapt to a new global context marked by digital disruption and widespread public distrust in government. Hosted on April 4, the panel brought together moderator Steven Levitsky, director of the David Rockefeller Center […]
Hot Takes: Munchies Edition
A few weeks ago, the Harvard Independent published an article asking Harvard students about their hottest takes. Many of the opinions shared ended up being food-related, with one first-year claiming that “HUDS banana bread pudding is pure fuego” and another student saying they’d “rather eat foods with Red 40 because…they’re more visually appealing.” But what’s […]
Biting Into Business: Harvard Square’s Dessert Profile
As you circle the Yard and journey through Harvard Square, you are likely to come across hungry Harvard undergraduates wandering about. While their bellies are already full from the dining hall menu, there is one craving that a college meal plan just can’t suffice: the desire for a sweet treat. Harvard Square is known for […]
Joining the Table: Harvard Food Literacy Project
Whether it be reunions in Annenberg, dining hall takeout, or a late-night run to Pinocchio’s, food is a pervasive aspect of the college experience. But for some at Harvard, food is more than just a backdrop to busy student life—it’s an entry point into deeper questions about sustainability, health, and community. As a student-led initiative […]
New Words and New Worlds
Willkommen! Bienvenue! مَرْحَباً ! ยินดีต้อนรับ! Ivy Day has recently passed, and many excited high school seniors have just received their Harvard acceptances. Now comes their next hurdle: graduating. An essential component of Harvard College’s liberal arts curriculum is the foreign language requirement. While it can be quickly fulfilled by scoring a 5 on any Advanced […]
Interrupted Relief: Politics, Reform, and the Uncertain Future of USAID
As part of a series with Harvard’s Center for International Development on global economic growth, the Institute of Politics’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum led a conversation on March 25 exploring the repercussions of dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development. The event featured three panelists discussing the future of U.S. foreign aid after the […]
Canines, Community, and Connection
Among the many Phillips Brooks House Association programs, Pets as Therapy stands out as one of the few Harvard initiatives to unite animals and students to support those in need. Through carefully organized visits, undergraduate volunteers and trained therapy dogs head to the Cambridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center to offer canine companionship and its associated […]
Ask Harvard: Recommendations For Your Schedule This Fall
Most Harvard undergraduates will take 12-20 courses for their chosen concentration, three classes that fulfill general College writing, language, and quantitative reasoning requirements, four general education courses, and three divisional distributions of arts and humanities, social sciences, and science and engineering across their four years on campus. This does not account for the many students […]
From Harvard Yard to Heartbreak Hill
On April 21, Boston will celebrate its annual marathon, an event characterized by tradition, hard work, and enthusiasm for the runners who boldly take on the 26.2-mile course. With hundreds of volunteers offering refreshments to athletes and thousands of spectators lining the race path with encouraging signs, Marathon Monday is a highlight for many city […]
Exploring the Role of TFs at Harvard
Harvard has long prided itself on its ability to foster intellectual curiosity and excellence among its students. However, this ambitious educational undertaking inevitably requires an extensive faculty. Among this robust staff are teaching fellows. Both professors and undergraduates appreciate the instrumental role that these instructors—known by students as TFs—play in educating the student body, but […]
Higher Education’s Fiscal Crisis
$53.2 billion. $22.3 billion. $14.8 billion. These are the respective endowments for fiscal year 2024 of Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Columbia University. Collectively, the eight Ivy League schools’ endowments exceed $185 billion. While these robust provisions are paramount in supporting student financial aid, faculty salaries, research, and other university programs, federal funding […]
Stand With Her: A Call to Action at Harvard’s Institute of Politics
The Institute of Politics celebrated International Women’s Day with a conversation centered on the #StandWithHer movement, a global initiative inspired by the Academy Award-winning film “To Kill a Tiger.” Held on March 11, the event spotlighted stories of resilience, gender justice, and the role of solidarity in addressing gender-based violence. The panel brought together voices […]
A Controversial Future Looking at Harvard’s Complicated Past
More focus than ever is being cast on Harvard’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives as universities across the country, such as Columbia and Johns Hopkins, face crackdowns due to external government pressure. So, when Harvard itself laid off internal members of the Harvard Slavery Remembrance Program this past January, many were surprised and outspoken with […]
River Run Rampage
At long last, Harvard College Housing Day is here again. This annual event—sometimes touted as one of the most important days of a student’s years at the College—decides which of 12 Houses will become a first-year’s home for the next three years. First-years spend the months after winter break navigating blocking group formation—an often dramatic […]
Hogwarts at Harvard
Every year, on the final Thursday before spring recess, Harvard first-years symbolically don the College’s “Sorting Hat” as they are randomly assigned to one of the 12 undergraduate Houses, where they will live for the rest of their time at Harvard. Appropriately named Housing Day, the tradition will take place this year on March 13. […]
Engaging With The HGHI
The Harvard Global Health Institute considers itself a hub for connecting students with international global health and policy internships, fellowships, speaker events, and research showcases. As U.S. healthcare policies shift under the new presidential administration, Harvard students are turning to the HGHI for opportunities to not only educate themselves but also gain real-world experience in […]
“From the Briefing Room”
In her first public event since leaving Washington this past January, former White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre took the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum stage on Feb. 26 to discuss the Biden administration, journalism, and democracy. ABC News national political reporter and Spring 2025 IOP Resident Fellow Brittany Shepherd joined Jean-Pierre, as well as […]
Putting a Cap on Time Caps
A university as expansive as Harvard requires thousands of teaching staff to preserve its academic reputation of integrity and curiosity. Though they are known by various names—professors, senior lecturers, preceptors, and College fellows—each faculty member’s mission is to educate. Tenured professors like Jason Furman ’92 and Michael Sandel enjoy unlimited lengths of stay at Harvard, […]
Is the Grass Greener at Other Schools?
Do Harvard students melt down over the minuscule? Or are their complaints of campus crises completely justified? Whether it’s sprinting across campus to make Annenberg Hall’s slim 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. dinner hours, battling the printers in Lamont Library, or making the outdoor trek in 20-degree weather to another building to do laundry, minor […]
HOLA: A Home Away from Home
Harvard College is home to a wide range of unique student organizations. However, the Harvard Organization for Latin America stands out due to its vibrant combination of culture, connection, and celebration. While many of Harvard’s students primarily hear about consulting or networking organizations, HOLA’s rich Latin American community makes its presence just as critical for […]
A NATO Nightmare?
“You got to pay. You got to pay your bills.” No, these are not just the lyrics to Destiny Child’s hit single, “Bills, Bills, Bills.” This blunt statement was made in January 2025 by President Donald Trump as he expressed his frustration with the United States’s outsized role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization—one of […]
“A System of Nepotism”
Richard T. Greener ’1870—the first Black student to graduate from Harvard College. George L. Ruffin ’1869—the first Black student to graduate from Harvard Law School. However, Clemont Morgan was the first Black student to graduate from both Harvard College in 1890 and Harvard Law School in 1893. After graduating, Morgan helped found the NAACP and […]
Bound 2 Hate
While some Harvard students never knew the “old Kanye,” they certainly do not condone the recent rhetoric of the “new Kanye.” In a three-day tirade, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, posted a series of tweets targeting Jewish and Black communities, women, and other Hollywood public figures. As Ye headlined news outlets for making loaded […]
From Berg to Bonding: Harvard Through The Eyes of International Students
Although 17% of the Harvard Class of 2028 was raised on classic New England clam chowder and a spattering of coastal towns, a similar number of current first-years had a drastically different upbringing. For most students starting their college education, they must learn to navigate life without parents, siblings, or other conventional childhood support systems. […]
Harvard’s Hold on Housing
Across 17 freshman dormitories and 13 upperclassmen residential buildings, Harvard undergraduates have the privilege of guaranteed housing during their four years on campus. However, graduate students, faculty, and University affiliates struggle to find housing as Harvard’s property acquisitions distort the Cambridge and Allston markets. Harvard University Housing owns approximately 2,900 apartments and 100 buildings, serving […]
The Trouble with Tariffs
One cornerstone of President Trump’s 2025 campaign was his “America First” foreign policy plan. Part of that vision centered around levying tariffs against U.S. trade partners, most notably Canada and Mexico, in the hopes that economic pressure would force America’s neighbors to address the steady influx of illegal immigrants and dangerous drugs like fentanyl, which […]
Hot Takes from Harvard Students
Harvard’s extensive list of accomplished alumni is teeming with figures who have been a part of global controversies for decades. From politicians like Al Franken ’73 and Henry Kissinger ’50 to business magnates such as Mark Zuckerberg ’17, Harvard graduates can be counted on to change history—for better or worse. Even the infamous Unabomber, Ted […]
Cards That Will Make You “Pop” With Joy
The chill of February lingers in the air, but love is already blooming in Harvard Square. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, students are scouring the internet and local shops for thoughtful gifts that impress their special someone. Among the series of Yelp reviews and promising storefronts is Love Pop, which offers customers a twist on […]
Navigating Israel: Conversations and Controversy
After a year-long hiatus, an adapted version of the Harvard College Israel Trek returned, taking 46 undergraduates to the region from Jan. 17 to Jan. 25. Unlike Treks in the past, this trip was the first one to take place during Wintersession and the first one not advertised to the entire College. The trip has […]
Serving With Love
The Phillips Brooks House Association (PBHA) continues to uphold its legacy as one of Harvard’s most enduring pillars of public service. Founded in 1904 as a coalition of six student organizations, PBHA has since evolved into a dynamic, student-led nonprofit with over 1,500 volunteers who operate over 80 social service and social action programs. These […]
Coming Up at the Institute of Politics
The Harvard Institute of Politics brought in record-breaking application numbers for the Spring 2025 semester. As of Feb. 10, the IOP received 788 applications across its 16 programs—including nearly 200 first-time submissions. At such a critical juncture in American and global politics, this growth speaks to a rising interest in civic leadership and public service […]
De Croo Addresses JFK Jr. Forum
On Jan. 31, outgoing Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo delivered a speech at the Harvard Institute of Politics on the future of the European economy and international security. The talk was one of two flagship events hosted as part of the student-organized European Conference at the Harvard Kennedy School. De Croo, who has served […]
Le’olam al tishkach, Le’olam lo
Last Tuesday, Jan. 27, marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp. The United Nations proclaimed Jan. 27 as the International Holocaust Memorial Day in 2005 to mark Auschwitz’s liberation in 1945, five years after its creation. From the camp’s inception until its liberation by the Red Army, German Nazis murdered […]
POV: You Still Can’t Access TikTok
On Jan. 19, phones around the United States were thrown across rooms and hit against tables as TikTok users were completely denied access to the popular short-form video content app. Two days earlier, the United States Supreme Court unanimously upheld a ban on the app’s use within our national borders due to data privacy concerns. […]
Looking Beyond the Flames
Three days before the fires, Los Angeles and the surrounding area were idyllic. The Daily Pilot, an Orange County newspaper, even featured an article about the wintry beauty of Laguna Beach on its front page. However, on Jan. 7, fierce winds and a region parched from drought combined to create one of the most devastating […]
Trump Returns to Office
President Donald Trump was sworn in for his second term on Jan. 20 inside the Capitol Rotunda, making him the second person in American history to serve two nonconsecutive terms as chief executive. Following a contentious and unprecedented election season, Trump narrowly won the national popular vote—the first Republican presidential candidate to do so since […]
The 92 Report: Harvard Then & Now
“So, tell me about your journey since graduating from Harvard.” Each episode of Will Bachman ’92’s podcast, The 92 Report, kicks off the same way—but from there, Bachman lets his guests take the reins and lets the conversation flow organically. The 92 Report, which first debuted in February 2022, follows Will Bachman as he speaks […]
The Enduring Attack on DEI
In his first week back in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the executive branch and the broader United States. From anti-bias training to federal funding for minority farmers and homeowners, Trump’s order effectively dismantles such programs from all aspects of the federal […]
The Fragile Reality of “Ceasefire Now”
Jan. 19 marked the first day of a long-anticipated ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war that began over 15 months ago. The attack on Oct. 7, 2023 left 1,200 Israelis dead and over 240 captured by Hamas. Since then, more than 45,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s retaliation, along with hundreds more […]
Diversity on Trial
Harvard Law School’s mission statement offers a glimpse at the central tenets of the institution’s academic experience: “The unique strength of our community is that it brings together, from around the world, so many exceptionally talented people of different backgrounds, lived experiences, interests, ambitions, approaches, methodologies, and perspectives.” However, after the number of Black enrollees […]
Furman Forecasts Trump’s Second Term
Harvard Kennedy School and College Professor Jason Furman ’92 discussed the future of the American economy under President-elect Trump’s second term at a panel this Monday. The event was organized by the Charles River Economics Labs (CREL), a team of undergraduate pro-bono researchers. CREL co-presidents Julien Berman ’26 and Abhay Duggirala ’26 asked Furman questions […]
Starting School with a Start-Up
Founding a start-up is undeniably hard, but some Harvard students undertake this monumental task before even setting foot on campus—whether to boost their applications, pursue a passion, or make some money. So what happens to these projects once students arrive and get settled at Harvard? Harvard students have reported that many start-ups fizzle out as […]
Traditions and Turmoil
Every Thanksgiving, millions of Americans gather around dinner tables to celebrate a holiday steeped in tradition and controversy. On the day of Thanksgiving at 8:00 a.m., an army of floats, balloons, and elaborate costumes marched down New York City’s Central Park West. This year was the 100th anniversary of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, an […]
Holding Space for Defying Expectations
It is impossible to ignore the outsized role of Harvard relative to other universities in the minds of people around the world. Its name evokes visions of The Social Network, Legally Blonde, and, as many first-years learn during orientation week, Love Story. Its hallowed place in the American psyche is compounded by over eight million […]
From Harvard to New Hampshire
While the rest of campus was curled up recovering from the previous night’s escapades, one particularly ambitious group of Harvard students set out on foot, bright and early on Sunday, Nov. 17 with a clear destination in mind: New Hampshire. For Asher Montgomery ’26 and Uzma Issa ’25, the idea for the adventure developed over […]
The Ins and Outs of Wintersession
After the fall semester’s final papers, exams, and projects have ended, there is a brief academic lull before the spring semester begins. While some students spend their extended holiday break with family, catching up on sleep, or re-planting their hometown roots, a select population participates in Wintersession. Wintersession at Harvard, colloquially known as “J-Term,” is […]
Harvard Versus Its Own: Trump’s New Cabinet
The relationship between Harvard and two alumni appointed to key positions in Donald Trump’s administration has been marked by tension and public clashes. R-NY Elise Stefanik ’06 and Peter Hegseth ’13 have criticized the University on multiple occasions, basing their criticisms on what they view as Harvard’s liberal agenda. Stefanik, nominated as the next U.S. […]
A Tale of a Fractured USA
On Nov. 5, the existing political divides amongst Harvard’s student body spurred markedly different election night screenings across campus. In Sanders Theatre, the Institute of Politics hosted what seemed to be a predominantly Democratic audience who watched with dismay as swing states leaned toward Donald Trump, dimming hopes for a Kamala Harris presidency. Meanwhile, in […]
This Week at the JFK Jr. Forum
In the weeks following the 2024 presidential election, the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics hosted a group of high-profile speakers. While the country grapples with the upcoming change in party leadership, the Harvard community had the opportunity to hear from experts across the political spectrum—journalists, politicians, and academics […]
When Luck Decides
The legendary Harvard-Yale football match, known as “The Game,” is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year for both schools, drawing thousands of alumni to celebrate a rivalry dating back to 1875. Set to take place on Nov. 23 at noon in Harvard Stadium, the event promises to be a spirited gathering […]
Meet the New IOP Executive Board
On Monday morning, the Harvard Institute of Politics (IOP) announced its newly elected executive board. Tenzin Gund-Morrow ’26 and Summer Tan ’26 were elected as President and Vice President, respectively, and will lead the IOP through 2025, alongside Kevin Bokoum ’26, Treasurer, and Lorenzo Ruiz ’27, Communications Director. Looking ahead, Gund-Morrow and Tan are eager […]
Abortion Rights in the U.S.
Abortion has been a widely debated and often practiced medical procedure in the United States. For decades, reproductive rights, including abortion, were unregulated and largely ignored by law. However, by the 1860s, abortion bans were established at the state level, and in 1910 abortion was banned nationwide. In the past, banning abortion did not stop […]
It’s a Love Story, Boston, Just Say Yes
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single person in possession of the ability to read, must be in want of a good love story. Romance novels have seen a huge uptick in popularity recently, with sales doubling over the past five years. In 2022, popular romance author Colleen Hoover’s novels outsold the Bible. […]
Uncertain Futures
Nov. 5 was a pivotal day for the country. The 2024 U.S. presidential election was considered by many to be the most important national election of our lifetimes. For millions, this election was more than a political contest—it represented a pivotal moment for civil liberties, personal autonomy, and the safety of marginalized communities. Across the […]
The Top 100 Harvard Students
With the great range of interests and accomplishments that come from Harvard students, considering any one student superior to another can seem like an unreasonable task. Taking on this challenge, someone has written a document that attempted to definitively list Harvard College’s supposed “Top 100 Students.” Ironically, this list only included 99 names. Clicking a […]
A Look Beyond the Books: Harvard Hidden Talents
They can be found everywhere on campus—filling the lecture halls, waiting in line at the dining hall, studying on the tenth floor of the Smith Campus Center. But behind the typical school routine, many Harvard students possess extraordinary talents. Concealed away in dorm rooms, rehearsal spaces, or back in their hometowns, these students have incredible […]
Harvard’s Treasure Trove
At 4 p.m. on Oct. 23, an email appeared in every Harvard student’s inbox, stating: Spring 2025 Registration Opens on Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. — Begin preparing for registration now! Operating under a different timeline from past course registrations, Harvard College’s new system has met conflicted responses from students. Many students are unsure of […]
HESMA Results Released
“We have more work to do,” President Alan Garber ’76 wrote, describing the results of the 2024 Higher Education Sexual Misconduct and Awareness (HESMA) survey in an Oct. 21 message to the Harvard community. Conducted in April, the survey polled 10 universities and gathered responses from 8,439 Harvard undergraduates and graduates, representing 35.1% of the […]
Cambridge’s Spooky Secrets
Cambridge may seem like it’s just a residential town with students. Coffee shops, merchandise stores, and restaurants decorate every corner. However, Cambridge’s history extends far beyond its current bustling tourism and vibrant street life. If you’re looking for a haunted Halloween this year, look no further than the city bounds. Founded in 1630, Cambridge has […]
In The News: The Independent’s 2024 Political Survey
For our 2024 Political Issue, the Independent surveyed Harvard College undergraduates on their political beliefs and feelings towards the upcoming presidential election. Over a two-day period, we received 391 varying responses. Note that all questions were anonymous and optional, so not all 391 respondents answered every question. Demographics The survey received an almost even split […]
The Harvard Students Who Vote Socialist
Harvard Vote Socialist, a political organization founded on campus this September, has quickly mobilized a portion of Harvard undergraduate students to campaign for Claudia De la Cruz and Karina Garcia, the 2024 presidential and vice-presidential candidates running on the Party of Socialism and Liberation (PSL) ticket. The PSL, a left-wing anti-capitalist political party founded in […]
Where Does Harvard Swing?
Election night is less than two weeks away. With seven swing states on track to decide November’s results, students from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin will play a significant role in determining the nation’s president for the next four years. While Harvard consciously tries to have geographic diversity in each admitted […]
“We’re Not Going Back”
“Personal freedoms.” “Access to education.” “Affordable healthcare.” Three Harvard students voiced reasons for supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming 2024 presidential election in a reel on the Harvard Students for Harris Instagram. Originally known as Harvard for Biden in 2020 and again in 2024, Harvard Students for Harris was officially rebranded by co-presidents […]
The Languages Less Taken
Harvard College offers courses and tutorials on 98 world languages, with even more available upon special request. From Mandarin Chinese, spoken by 1.1 billion people worldwide, to Old Church Slavonic, a medieval proto-Slavic language only occasionally used in some Orthodox and Eastern-Rite Catholic church services today, undergraduate language offerings span continents and millennia—yet few students […]
To Be, or Not to Be (Pre-Med)
I sat down for a typical lunch at Annenberg. “So, what classes are you taking?” my table-mate asked, a classic conversation starter. “I’m taking a History of Science class, a Gen Ed on heart disease, and LS1a,” I responded, thinking about the work cut out for me later. “OMG, are you also a pre-med?” they […]
Behind the Wheel
There has never been a more exciting time to be a Harvard engineer. With the recently built $1 billion campus in Allston and its ever-growing student body of engineering, computer science, and applied mathematics concentrators, Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) has seen a meteoric rise. The most impressive part […]
Campus Chaos
Tuesday afternoon, students of the College received an email from Lauren Brandt, Associate Dean of Students, regarding increased safety measures on campus. This email came in the wake of a series of events that have jeopardized the safety of many students since their arrival on campus. After reading this email, we are left wondering how […]
Laughter, Gasps, and Scoffs…
On the first night of October, I joined the Harvard Democrats at the Harvard Kennedy School for their watch party of the 2024 Vice Presidential Debate. As the table gathered, the room filled with excitement for the candidate they affectionately called “Coach Walz.” Around twenty-five people lined the room, loud chatter filling the space as […]
Unhoused in Harvard Square
The corner of Massachusetts Avenue and JFK Street is a popular spot for toiletries from CVS, matchas from Blank Street, and trips into Boston via the Red Line. However, it’s also a place for around twenty unhoused individuals to rest or to ask passersby for spare change. While most students and Cambridge residents ignore them, […]
When Roommates Collide
Tensions are escalating, boundaries are blurring, and tempers are flaring as students clash over shared bedrooms, colonized common rooms, and personal space. These housing disputes continue to shake up dorm life and test the limits of cohabitation. Living arrangements for the Class of 2028 vary widely across campus, with each first-year dorm offering unique amenities […]
California in Cambridge
Trading in their flip-flops and eternal sunshine for rain boots and 4 p.m. sunsets, Harvard students from California quickly learn that attending a college on the East Coast entails more than just a new campus—it’s about learning a whole new lifestyle. Part of this lifestyle includes adjusting to a revised schedule, room, and curriculum along […]
A Look Behind Closed Doors
Tucked between a common room, laundry machines, and the Office of BGLTQ, some of Harvard’s most useful peer counseling resources remain hidden. While Harvard’s Counseling and Mental Health Services (CAMHS) boasts a plethora of professional support, the peer counseling resources offer a private yet welcoming space free from judgment. Harvard has six different peer counseling […]
The Founding of Harvard Faculty for Israel
Over the past year, Harvard has received extensive media attention, been called into a congressional hearing, and is now facing a lawsuit over antisemitism. Many groups formed in response to this challenging time on campus, including the Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias, the Presidential Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab, and […]
Do Bots Teach Better Than People?
As we enter the last week of September, school is starting to feel real again. But as everyone is locking in following their summer hiatus, there is one topic no one wants a refresher on: AI and the use of ChatGPT in the classroom. Ever since ChatGPT shook the academic world, teachers and administrators have […]
Meet the Class of 2028
In the wake of the June 2023 Supreme Court ruling addressing race-conscious college admissions, Harvard College’s Class of 2028 is of national interest. Since preserving diversity in American education is essential for high-quality instruction and the democratic strength of our nation, the College is at the forefront of this discussion. “Everyone wants to know, how […]
Crimson Creators
In our current digital and cultural age, Harvard students are making their mark not only in academics but also online, cultivating followings across various social media platforms. From YouTube vlogs to TikToks, Harvard content creators have leveraged their unique Harvard experiences to inspire and connect with audiences within the college and worldwide. Helen Piltner ’25 […]
A Pre-O is the Way to Go
As the Class of 2028 anticipated their first week at Harvard, a portion of particularly eager first-years arrived on campus seven days early to participate in one of six pre-orientation programs, more commonly dubbed “pre-o’s.” From backpacking through Vermont to singing “Party in the USA” with fellow international peers, the First-Year Arts Program (FAP), First-Year […]
Dearly Departed Dean
Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana, the longest-serving Harvard College Dean in more than a century, will step down at the end of the 2024-25 academic year, marking the end of his 11-year tenure. Dean Hopi E. Hoekstra, Edgerley Family Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science, announced Khurana’s decision to depart his deanship on […]
A New Democratic National Convention
From Aug. 19 to 22, Chicago welcomed 50,000 delegates, volunteers, and attendees to the Democratic National Convention. The DNC occurs every four years in the midst of the election cycle, serving formally as an opportunity for delegates to elect the Democratic nominee and informally for the party to share its message with the American public. […]
All About John Manning
“Everybody likes John, everybody trusts John,” said HLS Charles Warren Professor of Legal History Michael J. Klarman in an interview with The Crimson. After serving as Harvard University’s Interim Provost since March, Harvard confirmed on Aug. 15 that John Manning ’82 will permanently retain his position. As political and social tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict […]
“This Time, It’s Different.”
“We need the world to know what is happening in Venezuela,” declared Gabriel Ferrer ’26 on an Instagram reel that has since reached almost 18 thousand views. He went on to give a passionate rundown of Venezuela’s current post-election crisis. “We’re now in the process of defending the truth, and we’re asking the international community […]
In the News: In Case You Missed It
Harvard Announces its New President: On Aug. 2, Penny Pritzker, Senior Fellow of the Harvard Corporation, announced in a message to the Harvard community that Interim President Alan Garber ’76 will serve as the University’s president through the 2026-27 academic year. This puts an end, for now, to the presidential search that was initially poised […]
Summer Snapshots from the Independent
Time flies when you’re chasing passions, as the Indy staff discovered this summer. Fewer responsibilities, no classes, and better weather—what more could one ask for? But as the season winds down, it’s time to transition from these sun-soaked, carefree days to the structured, rigorous days of the academic year. This also means that the Independent […]
Meet the Harvard Students Who Helped Bring Paris 2024 to Life
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games were historic for Harvard. Athletes that currently represent or formerly competed for the Crimson won a total of 13 medals, the highest medal count for the university since the 1896 Olympic Games. This year’s games also saw an 82% increase in viewership compared to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, amassing over […]
From the Consulting Pipeline to the Culinary World
Nestled across the street from The Charles Hotel on 114 Mt. Auburn Street, Flour Bakery + Cafe is a favorite among Harvard students, tourists, and Cambridge residents alike. The menu is varied yet simple. From pastries to sandwiches to bowls, it is clear that every item is crafted with detail and thoughtfulness. A cozy spot […]
Claim to Fame
“Get in Claimer, we’re going shopping.” This alert from the app Claim is one of many enticing notifications students receive, signaling the latest deals available for the week. Claim is an app designed to create what its co-founder and CEO, Sam Obletz, calls “easy and affordable memories.” Launched at Harvard in January 2023, the app […]
Harvard Encampment Remains Optimistic, Despite Murky Path to Divestment
Since Wednesday, April 24, the Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine Coalition (HOOP) has erected an encampment, consisting of around 40 tents, around University Hall in Harvard Yard. This encampment followed similar protests at Columbia and Yale. Many of these encampments have seen chaotic and violent scenes, with police called to disperse participants, leading to hundreds […]
Pro-Palestinian Students Set Up Encampment in Harvard Yard
Shortly before noon on Wednesday, April 24, pro-Palestinian students and protesters ran into Harvard Yard carrying tents, signs, and food, quickly setting up an encampment in front of University Hall. Forming an organization called the “Harvard Out of Occupied Palestine Coalition,” also known as HOOP, members vow to occupy Harvard Yard until Harvard divests from […]
May the Foam be With You
We all know that famous line from Star Wars: Episode V –The Empire Strikes Back: “Luke, I am not your Father, I am your Foamdaddy.” Oh, wait, that one is from Episode XVII, The Empire Strikes Bath. Well, Harvard nightlife might be “a movie” after Mather HoCo struck again last Friday night in a galaxy […]
The Future of Our Democracy
On April 12, Senator Bernie Sanders took the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum stage at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics. Institute of Politics Director Setti Warren spoke first, warning the audience to adhere to Harvard Kennedy School dissent policies and refrain from protesting—an uncommon preface for a Forum event. Former New York City […]
Stories from Sex-Positive Women and Femmes
At Harvard, nearly two-thirds of students arrive as virgins. Many students experiment sexually for the first time here. As with many universities, women and femme individuals often navigate gendered sexual expectations. I interviewed sex-positive women and femme students to explore their experiences. I had several questions. Are Rice Purity Scores an accurate measurement of sexual […]