The College Fix

I’m not a big fan of Harvard President Drew Faust, who views the freedom of her students to form their own associations as no better than state-sponsored segregation.

But occasionally she says something worth considering.

Case in point: She just explained to faculty at their Tuesday Arts & Sciences meeting why Harvard will not become a “sanctuary campus” where immigration authorities will be stymied.

The Harvard Crimson reports that Faust, a former history professor, said there’s no “legal significance” to the term and it “could actually further endanger undocumented students at Harvard”:

She said she has met with members of Congress and other federal officials to discuss protections for undocumented students.

“It also risks drawing special attention to the students in ways that could put their status in greater jeopardy,” Faust said. “I believe it would endanger, rather than protect, our students, and that is not something I am willing for this institution to do.”

History Prof. Walter Johnson argued that Harvard should “take up moral leadership” by invoking the word “sanctuary,” which has “immense importance” to students and shows that “the University is willing to stand … by their side.”

Faust was not simply responding to one professor’s rather uninformed plea – as she noted, there’s not even a “clear definition” of sanctuary – but also to a rally that he whipped up to get his sanctuary motion passed:

“I’m here to be a witness to your patriotism and to your love of this university,” Johnson said at the rally. “And I’m here to ask this nation and this university to fulfill the promise that you all represent.”

“Let America be America again,” he added, referencing both [President-elect Donald] Trump’s famed campaign slogan and a poem by Langston Hughes that celebrates America’s immigrant history and diverse population.

One student even said at the rally that Harvard invoking the magic word “sanctuary” would give him “mental security.”

Faust may be a poor leader for not respecting the dignity of students to choose their friends, but at least she won’t sell them false hope with a meaningless label.

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