Letter to the Harvard Community

Dear President Gay,

Thank you for your letter (scroll) announcing Harvard's response regarding how "The past few weeks have been marked by pain and fear for many of us." I, herewith, submit a suggested letter from you to the Harvard community that I feel would more effectively, and fairly, address the problem while preserving the essential principle of free speech on campus.

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,

I am distressed by attempts from members of the Harvard Community to curtail free speech on campus. Harvard will be guided by the following long held mantra: "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but names will never hurt me." Violence on the Harvard campus will be met with the full force of the law, and (with video evidence) immediate expulsion of any student perpetrator. Meanwhile, to students who feel threatened by speech they don't like, suck it up, buttercup.

Claudine Gay,
President Harvard University