The board of directors for The Harvard Salient, a conservative student magazine, has indefinitely suspended the publication's operations. The decision follows the release of articles containing what the board described as “reprehensible, abusive, and demeaning” material, including language with historical ties to Nazi rhetoric.
In a public statement, the 10-member board, which is composed of alumni and advisers, cited “deeply disturbing and credible complaints about the broader culture of the organization” as a key factor in their decision. The move effectively halts all activities of the student-run magazine, which has recently drawn significant criticism on campus.
Key Takeaways
- The Harvard Salient's alumni board of directors has suspended the student magazine indefinitely.
- The suspension was prompted by articles containing language similar to a quote by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi slogan "blood and soil."
- Student editors had previously defended the articles, stating any resemblance to historical hate speech was unintentional.
- Harvard College administrators have maintained a neutral stance, citing free speech principles for student organizations.
Board Cites 'Reprehensible' Material in Suspension
The board's brief online statement announced the immediate suspension of The Harvard Salient. The members wrote that recently published material was “wholly inimical to the conservative principles for which the magazine stands.”
While the board did not specify which articles prompted the action, their decision comes after a series of controversial pieces were distributed on campus. The board also mentioned receiving credible complaints about the organization's internal culture, though no further details were provided.
Several board members declined to comment further on the specifics of the suspension. The magazine’s student president, Julia G. Grinstead, and editor-in-chief, Richard Y. Rodgers, did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the board's decision.
Controversial Articles Spark Campus Outcry
The controversy centers on several articles, most notably one published in the magazine's September issue. Written by student David F.X. Army, the piece argued that ethnic groups should limit migration to protect their ancestral homelands and cultural unity.
The article included a line — “Germany belongs to the Germans, France to the French, Britain to the British, America to the Americans” — which is nearly identical to a phrase used by Adolf Hitler in a 1939 speech.
Historical Context of Phrases
The article also urged a return to values “rooted in blood, soil, language, and love of one’s own.” The phrase “blood and soil” (Blut und Boden) was a key slogan of Nazi ideology, promoting the ideas of a racially pure nationhood tied to a specific territory.
Furthermore, the piece stated that “Islam et al. has absolutely no place in Western Europe” and characterized population changes from migration as “the deliberate remaking of nations through demographic engineering.”
In a statement earlier this month, editor-in-chief Richard Y. Rodgers said the author and editors did not recognize the resemblance to Hitler's speech and claimed the line was a “generic nationalist formulation.” The publication later published a follow-up piece defending the original article and criticizing its detractors.
A Shift in Tone and Direction
The Harvard Salient was founded in 1981 with an editorial stance described as “moderate to conservative.” When a new group of students revived the publication in 2021, they pledged to solicit opinions from across the political spectrum.
However, recent content suggests a significant shift to the right. Other articles published in the same September issue included a call for Harvard to reestablish separate schools for men and women, reversing decades of integration with Radcliffe College.
"Leftism is not merely a rival policy set or an alternate party program. Leftism is a mental illness."
An online article co-authored by Rodgers and Army described political opponents on the left as “our enemies.” The piece went on to state, “Let us be unsentimental about the nature of the enemy... Leftism is a mental illness.” This aggressive tone has been a point of contention for many on campus.
University Administration Cites Free Speech
The intervention from the Salient's own board contrasts with the official position of Harvard's administration, which has so far remained silent on the magazine's content.
Institutional Neutrality Policy
Harvard has an institutional neutrality policy, but President Alan M. Garber has previously stated that the university should still condemn hate speech. Earlier in the year, Garber and former College Dean Rakesh Khurana condemned an antisemitic cartoon posted by other student groups.
In an interview before the suspension, College Dean David J. Deming said he would not review or comment on the controversial article. “Students have a right to express themselves, and students have a right to be outraged at the expressions that others give,” Deming stated, clarifying that the College would only intervene if a student violated a rule or the law.
A spokesperson for the College confirmed that The Harvard Salient is a “fiscally and editorially independent student organization,” reinforcing the administration's hands-off approach. The spokesperson declined to comment on whether the College had received any formal complaints about the magazine prior to its suspension.
