To the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Board of Overseers:

Harvard University was founded to educate citizens and leaders for a free society—grounded in the pursuit of truth, the clash of ideas, and the development of minds capable of serving the world through reason and open inquiry. Today, we, the undersigned alumni and petitioners, write with deep concern that Harvard has drifted far from this mission.

Across its schools and disciplines, the University appears increasingly captive to a narrow, leftist orthodoxy that dominates its intellectual, cultural, and institutional life. This imbalance alienates millions of Americans, betrays Harvard’s founding principles, and risks reducing a once-great institution to an echo chamber, estranged from the nation it was meant to serve.

The evidence is unmistakable. In the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, over 77% of professors identify as “liberal” or “very liberal,” while fewer than 3% identify as conservative—a disparity that undermines intellectual rigor across fields. At Harvard Law School, originalist scholars are marginalized in favor of progressive theorists, signaling a shift from constitutional fidelity toward political activism. At the Kennedy School, globalist frameworks increasingly dominate, sidelining policies that prioritize national sovereignty and American interests. In the School of Public Health, initiatives like the “Structural Racism” curriculum embed Marxist critiques of capitalism while dismissing merit-based perspectives. Even the Divinity School has embraced ideological progressivism at the expense of traditional Judeo-Christian views that speak to millions of Americans.

This ideological tilt is not confined to faculty rosters—it defines campus culture. A 2018 Crimson survey revealed that 66% of students self-censor to avoid social or academic repercussions. Dissenting voices are met not with debate, but disdain. Harvard’s response to events like the 2017 Charles Murray protest, its embrace of fossil fuel divestment, and the proliferation of DEI initiatives—often focused on equal outcomes over equal opportunity—show a preference for applause from elite circles over principled dialogue. The 2018 admissions lawsuit, exposing racial balancing in the name of diversity, reflects this troubling shift. So too does the “Decolonizing the Canon” initiative, which elevates deconstruction over celebration of American heritage.

These trends have real consequences. When Harvard trains leaders to view patriotism, merit, and sovereignty as outdated or oppressive, it weakens the civic fabric of the nation. The University’s internationalist posture, exemplified by global investments and reluctance to champion U.S. interests, signals detachment from the values and aspirations of everyday Americans. Criticism from federal officials—including warnings over antisemitism and bias—reflects not partisan hostility but a broader national concern: that Harvard has become disconnected from the country it claims to lead.

We believe reform must come from within—not from government coercion, but from Harvard’s own commitment to its mission. Accordingly, we urge the University to take these concrete steps:

1. Promote Intellectual Diversity Across All Disciplines
   Actively recruit and support faculty with diverse viewpoints—including conservative scholars—in every field, from law and medicine to education and the humanities.

2. Protect Free Expression and Dissent
   Guarantee that students and faculty can challenge prevailing orthodoxy without fear of reprisal. Cultivate a culture of open inquiry, not ideological conformity.

3. Refocus DEI on Opportunity, Not Outcomes
   Revamp DEI initiatives to emphasize individual merit and equal opportunity, not quotas or ideological filters that dilute excellence.

4. Reaffirm American Principles in Curriculum and Culture
   Honor U.S. sovereignty, citizenship, and traditional values in Harvard’s academic programs—especially in government, history, and the humanities—balancing global perspectives with national grounding.

5. Reject Progressive Elitism
   End the culture of insularity that isolates Harvard from ordinary Americans. Reconnect the University to the country it was built to serve.

6. Engage a Politically Diverse Alumni Base
   Create alumni forums that reflect a broad range of perspectives, to guide Harvard back toward its pluralistic roots.

7. Lead Through Self-Correction
   Demonstrate accountability through proactive reform, restoring Harvard’s reputation not through external pressure but by living up to its own ideals.

Harvard’s legacy demands more than prestige—it demands courage. More than half the country yearns for institutions that honor merit, liberty, and national pride. Harvard once stood for those ideals. It must do so again.

Let Harvard reclaim its greatness—not by conforming to the fashions of the moment, but by rising above them. Let it once again become a crucible of genuine intellectual diversity, where all Americans can find representation, respect, and truth.

We, the undersigned alumni, call on Harvard to reform from within and realign with the principles that once made it great. If you share this vision, we urge you to co-sign this letter and stand with us in restoring Harvard’s commitment to excellence, merit, and national purpose.

Hal Watson III, A.B. Government 1987