Expanding The Search

In 2007, Harvard University made history when it named Drew G. Faust as its first female president. This commendable feat, however, pales in comparison to the 381 years of white presidents who, until Faust’s election, had also been all male. Now, 10 years later, the University should consider other ways to defy historical precedent once again by assembling a diverse pool of candidates.

A number of alumni groups and organizations have already called for the prioritization of candidates who come from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds. As the Coalition for a Diverse Harvard notes, the University President has a large impact on the future of international academia and relations. The presidential selection thus affects more than our own academic community. The Harvard president serves as the role model for higher education in general and can influence the attitudes and decisions of other academic institutions. President Faust set precedents in her advocacy for expanded accessibility in higher education, and many other peer institutions have subsequently followed suit.

Harvard’s president also exerts a degree of political power, as Faust demonstrated when she testified before Congress to lobby for increased federal funding for biomedical research. Current political issues such as the revocation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, criticism of affirmative action, violence in Charlottesville, and the resurgence of white nationalism in America highlight the importance of finding a candidate committed to Faust’s diversity initiatives. We encourage the presidential search committee to spare no expense to ensure that its candidate pool is as diverse as possible.

Over the past few years, Harvard’s Admissions Office has already demonstrated a serious commitment to the diversity of the student population on campus. The class of 2021 is notably one of the most diverse that Harvard has seen. These changing demographics underline the need for a candidate pool that reflects the diversity of the student body. If our University prides itself on cultivating a spirit of inclusivity and belonging, considering primarily white-male candidates would be antithetical to this spirit.

Of course, the search committee’s first priority must be the qualifications of the candidate. Broadening the search to untraditional places, however, may indeed provide a more competitive pool.

Unfortunately, Harvard has struggled with diversifying its presidential searches in the past. The University has historically focused internally, drawing primarily from its faculty body. This approach limits the possibility of a president from an underrepresented background, as the overwhelming majority of the Harvard faculty is white and male. We would encourage the search committee to continue to expand its net, looking in less convenient and obvious places for other possible candidates.

This staff editorial solely represents the majority view of The Crimson Editorial Board. It is the product of discussions at regular Editorial Board meetings. In order to ensure the impartiality of our journalism, Crimson editors who choose to opine and vote at these meetings are not involved in the reporting of articles on similar topics.