Key members of Harvard's faculty and the university's governing body recently gathered for an extraordinary meeting to discuss the unprecedented problems that the prestigious institution is currently facing. The meeting, which took place last week, was attended by renowned figures such as Jeff Flier, a former dean of Harvard Medical School, and Steven Pinker, a psychology professor at Harvard University, along with nonprofit founder Tracy Palandjian and private-equity executive Paul Finnegan, both members of the Harvard Corporation.

The meeting, initially reported by the New York Times, was described as "very cordial and frank" by Jeff Flier. He stated that the group engaged in an open discussion about the array of challenges Harvard is confronting and explored potential solutions. Flier emphasized the need for the university's governing board, the Harvard Corporation, to address these problems more directly. He urged them to take action, noting that if people criticize the institution, they are essentially criticizing Harvard as a whole.

The discussion primarily focused on three significant issues that have plagued Harvard recently. Firstly, rising antisemitism on campus, coupled with the controversial response from the university, has raised concerns. Secondly, President Claudine Gay has been embroiled in a plagiarism scandal, which has sparked public conversations about her leadership. Lastly, Harvard faces plummeting application numbers and an uncertain future following the Supreme Court's Affirmative Action ruling.

The ongoing plagiarism scandal involving President Claudine Gay has garnered significant attention. Despite the Harvard Corporation's backing of Gay, the steady stream of plagiarism allegations has kept the issue in the spotlight. While the governing board refers to her mistakes as "regrettable" and clarifies that they do not amount to research misconduct, the focus on the controversy has diverted attention from a more pressing issue: the increasing antisemitism on campus.

The Department of Education has launched an investigation into Harvard for "discrimination involving shared ancestry," a term encompassing both antisemitism and Islamophobia. This investigation stems from incidents following Hamas' attacks on Israel, and Harvard is among several schools under federal scrutiny. President Claudine Gay faced criticism due to her testimony on Capitol Hill, wherein she and other university presidents struggled to explicitly state that calls for the genocide of Jews would violate school rules.

Furthermore, Harvard recently announced a significant decline of 17% in early applications for Harvard College, reaching a four-year low. The cause of this decline remains unclear, as other universities facing similar challenges, such as the University of Pennsylvania, reported increases in application numbers compared to the previous year.

The meeting's attendees also discussed the impact of the Supreme Court's ruling on affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling declared the admission programs at Harvard and the University of North Carolina as unconstitutional, raising uncertainty about the future of affirmative action and its implementation.

In addition, Harvard's reputation suffered a blow as megadonor Len Blavatnik paused donations to the university, demanding action to address the campus's increasing antisemitism problem. These financial concerns further underscore the urgency to address the challenges Harvard currently faces.

During the meeting, Tracy Palandjian emphasized that merely replacing President Gay may not be sufficient to steer Harvard back on course. She advocated for "generational change," highlighting the need for a broader perspective and long-term solutions. However, Harvard spokesperson Jonathan Swain clarified that the discussion of "generational change" did not refer to any specific individual at Harvard but rather the time required to address complex societal issues.

While tensions among board members have been hinted at by private conversations with donors, professors, and others, reports indicate that the Harvard Corporation is maintaining its stance, despite criticism. It remains to be seen how the institution will navigate its current challenges and restore stability moving forward.

Harvard University spokesperson Jonathan Swain characterized the meeting as a "constructive and positive conversation" centered around the importance of academic freedom, civil discourse, and intellectual diversity. Swain emphasized that addressing these pressing issues will take time and collective effort.

As Harvard strives to chart a path forward, it is evident that confronting rising antisemitism, resolving the plagiarism scandal, and navigating the uncertain future of affirmative action will require significant attention and strategic decision-making from the institution's leadership.