Awkward moments inauguration9/6/2023 “I am pleased to announce today that we will work towards raising the resources so we can guarantee every undergraduate who wants one a public service internship of some kind, an opportunity to see the world,” Bacow said. He added that he hopes every Harvard graduate will be an “active, engaged, enlightened citizen.”īacow also announced a commitment to funding public service internships, which are often low-paid or unpaid summer positions, for every undergraduate who would like to pursue a position in that sector. “These questions force us to ask: what does higher education really contribute to national life?”īacow said higher education is a “public good” and that Harvard has an “obligation” to the public. “For the first time in my lifetime, people are expressing doubts about whether colleges and universities are even good for the nation,” Bacow said. He invoked critiques that colleges and universities are not “nearly as open” to ideas from across the political spectrum “as we should be.” After taking a quick seat in the notoriously uncomfortable president’s three-legged chair, he stepped up to the podium to talk about issues including public service, immigration, and ideological diversity.īacow addressed common criticisms of higher education, including that it has become “unaffordable,” “inaccessible to” and “out of touch” with the rest of the country. The main event, though, was Bacow’s nearly 35-minute speech highlighting the key themes of his presidency thus far. Gorman ’20, the inaugural United States Youth Poet Laureate, reciting an original poem dedicated to the beginning of Bacow's tenure. “We spent decades getting Larry ready,” Reif said, referencing Bacow’s undergraduate career at MIT and drawing laughs from the crowd.Īmanda S.C. Rafael Reif, the president of the neighboring Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In his first months in office, Bacow has already begun to articulate some of his priorities, which center around combatting the hostile political climate surrounding higher education - issues he spoke about in his inaugural address.īut before Bacow took center stage, the afternoon began on a lighter note with a cheeky address from L. Hundreds of academics from within Harvard’s ranks and institutions around the country dressed in robes of all colors, patterns, and fabrics to celebrate Bacow’s ascent to higher education’s top job. Though Bacow officially assumed office July 1, the University reserved pomp and circumstance until students returned to campus. Faust - bestowed artifacts from Harvard’s history on the University’s 29th leader, including a set of ceremonial silver keys, the first volume of College records, and historic Harvard seals. Gathered on the steps of Memorial Church, his living predecessors - Derek C. It’s not often that five Harvard presidents gather in one place.įriday was one of those rare occasions, as the last four presidents descended on Harvard Yard to ceremonially welcome Lawrence S.
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