Kate Selig and Simon J. Levien
A Harvard spokesman declined a request for an interview, noting the Abigail Adams Institute’s independence from the university. But Alan M. Garber, the university president, recently pledgedto speed up the creation of a campus initiative on viewpoint diversity, and in a May letter responding to the Trump administration, he said that the two have “common ground,” including in fostering “intellectual diversity.”
Some students and faculty members have criticized the administration for caving to right-wing demands. But students who participate in the institute said the campus needs more places open to heterodox opinions.
Shani Agarwal Hood, who earned a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School in 2023, sought out the institute when she arrived at Harvard in search of a literary salon culture, friends and free inquiry.
She believes Harvard hasn’t always struck the right balance between fostering a respectful and inclusive environment and protecting free expression. As a Catholic, she said, her views have sometimes clashed with those of her peers.