Going to the Mat

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In case you haven't hear of the Harvard placemat brouhaha, below is a guide. The placemat is above.

Harvard Crimson: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/12/16/harvard-placemats-social-justice/ and http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/12/16/placements-race-discussions-released/

Complaint from Harvard Undergraduate Council: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0By8LSX6DBUaHd1B0dFV2TzB2bEU/view?pref=2&pli=1

Harvard's apology: http://links.mkt3495.com/servlet/MailView?ms=MTI1MTg3MDAS1&r=MTE2NzExNzM0ODEyS0&j=NjQzNTUxOTc4S0&mt=1&rt=0  (Reproduced below)

Chronicle of Higher Ed: http://chronicle.com/blogs/ticker/harvard-apologizes-for-place-mats-meant-to-guide-social-justice-conversations/107512

Boston Globe: http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2015/12/18/harvard-placemats-and-limits-diversity-training/SG05Q3fp0cTufdwsGKkE5O/story.html

The original unaccredited source: (plagiarism?) https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/showingupforracialjustice/pages/272/attachments/original/1448504831/Showing_Up_for_Racial_Justice_SURJ_Holiday_Placemat.pdf?1448504831

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December 16, 2015

Dear Harvard College students,

We write to acknowledge that the placemat distributed in some of your dining halls this week failed to account for the many viewpoints that exist on our campus on some of the most complex issues we confront as a community and society today. Our goal was to provide a framework for you to engage in conversations with peers and family members as you return home for the winter break, however, it was not effectively presented and it ultimately caused confusion in our community. On behalf of the Office of Student Life and the Freshman Dean’s Office, we offer our sincere apologies for this situation.

Academic freedom is central to all that Harvard College stands for. To suggest that there is only one point of view on each of these issues runs counter to our educational goals. We appreciate the feedback that we have received about this initiative. Moving forward we will, with your continued input, support the growth and the development of independent minds.

Sincerely,

Stephen Lassonde
Dean of Student Life

Thomas Dingman
Dean of Freshmen

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And since the placemat appeared in a dining hall, the two deans might have let the Platters say it for them: