Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) discussed leadership and the importance of preserving free speech at a Harvard Business School event Monday night.
The event, moderated by Harvard professor and former HBS dean Nitin Nohuria, will foster constructive communication in light of recent campus unrest over the Israel-Hamas war and the resignation of Claudine Gay. The event was part of the Harvard Dialogue series, the university's recent initiative to
Professor Nohria said higher education institutions have the ideal of “genuine, productive and constructive dialogue,” but that distrust is growing due to the perception that elite schools such as Harvard University are failing to live up to that ideal. Stated.
“People are worried that these institutions have strayed from a higher purpose and have turned into battles over identity rather than a real concern for what is actually true and just. '' he said.
Romney said these concerns about the American system are widespread around the world.
“With the report from Davos, I realized that people all over the world are saying, 'What happened to America?' And they see us as being driven by identity, not issues. “There is,” Romney said.
In response to recent unrest on college campuses across the country, Romney has proposed re-adhering to free speech norms, but with a clear line on any speech that poses a “threat of physical harm.” I pulled it.
Romney, a graduate of HBS and Harvard Law School, said educational institutions should “fully represent political viewpoints.”
“Let's have heated debates, but let's respect each other and show people that we respect other ideas and people who are different from us,” he added.
Noria said this moment in history was “the most difficult” of her life, but she remained steadfast in the need to find a way forward.
“When I think about these difficult times, I quickly remember that there was a generation before us that lived through the Cold War, and a generation before us that lived through the Great Depression,” he said. “So don't feel sorry for yourself. There are other people out there who have met that moment and done extraordinary things. Maybe that's why we as leaders of this generation have met this moment and found a way to move forward. This may be our challenge.”
—Staff writer Kyle Baek can be reached at kyle.baek@thecrimson.com. X Follow him at @KBaek53453.
—Staff writer Benjamin Isaac can be reached at benjamin.isaac@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @Benjamini sack_1.