Harvard continues dismantling its DEI offices amid Trump attacks
The latest development came on Wednesday when Harvard College dismantled its diversity office to replace it with the new 'Office for Academic Culture and Community.'
The university also removed its websites for the Women's Center, Office for BGLTQ Student Life and Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations and redirected them to a webpage for the new office.
The new office is part of the university's 'ongoing effort to break down silos, ensuring all members of our community are connected, supported, and empowered to contribute to a thriving intellectual environment,' Hopi Hoekstra, the dean of the faculty of arts and sciences wrote in a letter on Wednesday.
It comes after Harvard University renamed its 'Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging' to 'Community and Campus Life' in late April. Similar efforts have taken place at Harvard Medical School and the Graduate School of Education.
Read more: 'Willing to capitulate': Cracks emerge in Harvard's resistance to Trump over DEI
Cornell William Brooks, a professor at Harvard Kennedy School, told MassLive in May that the renaming was both a surprise and an 'even greater disappointment.'
'Why do you need to rename and rebrand that what you have long said is right as though it were wrong? Harvard has long said that it supports diversity,' said Brooks.
Harvard College's renaming follows in the footsteps of MIT and Northeastern's decisions to rename their offices.
MIT President Sally Kornbluth announced plans at the end of May to 'sunset' the university's Institute Community and Equity Office and remove its vice president for equity and inclusion position in a letter to the school community. The office's 'core programs' will continue, but under the purview of other offices.
A reported deal between the Trump administration and the university over nearly $3 billion in federal cuts hasn't been finalized or publicized yet.
Read more: Should Harvard enter into a deal with the Trump administration?
A Harvard spokesperson said the college remains 'committed to cultivating a community where all of its members can thrive.'
'We look forward to broadening this mission-critical work with renewed energy,' the spokesperson said.
With the launch of the new office, Hoekstra announced that its inaugural executive director will be Brenda Tindal. She is the Faculty of Arts and Sciences' chief campus curator.
She has served as a member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences' Civil Discourse Working Group and as the co-chair of the Harvard & Legacy of Slavery Memorial Committee.
'In this role, Brenda will lead efforts to strengthen our academic community through initiatives that foster connection, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose. Her work will span community-building, programmatic development, consultative services and the curation of campus spaces,' Hoekstra said.
Behind Tindal will be a team of people including a managing director, department administrator, program coordinator and three divisional fellows.
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