https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/150-years-after-the-gettysburg-address-is-government-by-the-people-in-trouble/2013/11/15/b37841f0-4bdf-11e3-be6b-d3d28122e6d4_story.html Cambridge, Mass….
Letter from President Faust to Allston Neighbors
Dear Neighbor, For the past four years, members of the Harvard community have worked both internally—with faculty, students, and staff—and externally—with community members, elected officials, developers, and city planning and development staff—to craft and hone an updated vision for Harvard’s next steps in Allston. I am pleased to report that we have together accomplished a…
Fossil Fuel Divestment Statement
Dear Members of the Harvard Community, Climate change represents one of the world’s most consequential challenges. I very much respect the concern and commitment shown by the many members of our community who are working to confront this problem. I, as well as members of our Corporation Committee on Shareholder Responsibility, have benefited from a…
To Seize an Impatient Future
As delivered. Just one month ago, nearly 300 men and women, from the Class of 1961 to the Class of 2017, from across the country and around the world, descended on Harvard, took to the Charles, and rowed. They rowed to honor the late and legendary Harry Parker, Harvard crew coach for more than half…
Opening Year Address
Thank you, Dutch. Thank you for agreeing to be the emcee today, and thank you especially for coming all the way from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, which is where Dutch woke up this morning. And so we’re especially grateful for that. It’s a pleasure to welcome everyone to this new academic year. Each September I find myself…
2013 Remarks at Morning Prayers
As delivered. Each September I join you on the first day of classes to greet the new year, to acknowledge a new season, a time—borrowing from the passage from Ecclesiastes that Reverend Walton just read—to renew our purposes under heaven. In this annual ritual, I come to you to mark change—a change we feel in…
On the Passing of Harry Parker
Harry Parker epitomized the coach as teacher. He saw each of his rowers not just as an athlete but as a whole person, a person learning not just how to excel at a sport but how to live a life. Generations of Harvard students will forever remember his formative influence. He was a living legend…
Statement on the Supreme Court’s Ruling on Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin
We are heartened that the Supreme Court today has affirmed the vital interest of universities in bringing together students from many different backgrounds and points of view. Such diversity enriches the learning experience for all our students, as they live and learn in a community whose collective variety of experiences, interests, and perspectives opens minds,…
2013 Year-End Message from President Faust
On the Web: https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2013/06/harvard-university-year-in-pictures-2012-2013/ Dear Members of the Harvard Community: Despite unseasonably warm weather, throngs of alumni and friends filled Tercentenary Theatre for Commencement. The Morning Exercises were punctuated by welcome levity and the Afternoon Exercises energized by Oprah Winfrey’s inspiring speech. It was an especially joyful day, reminding us of the strength of the…
2013 Commencement Speech
It is always a pleasure to greet a sea of alumni on Commencement afternoon—even though my role is that of the warm-up act for the feature to come. Today I am especially aware of the treat we have in store as I look out on not a sea, but a veritable ocean of anticipation. But…