4 ms·

Voter Suppression, Harvard-Style (2022)

39 points by mhb 3y ago

culi 3y ago
> But an alternative route to get on the Harvard ballot exists, at least in theory. So-called “petition” candidates have always been rare—but after several climate activists were elected in 2020, the rules were changed to make it even harder. Among other things, the number of petitions to get on the ballot was raised by a factor of fifteen, to more than three thousand. This has been the case with many corporate boards as well in response to "activist investors"
delichon 3y ago
[flagged]
- ethanbond 3y ago
  Institutions like Harvard are shockingly resilient. Both ridiculously flush with cash and a lot of powerful people are emotionally invested in its success (and its repair). But yeah maybe this round of mean comments from angry outsiders will finally do them in!
  - DragonStrength 3y ago
    They're invested in the brand of Harvard and not a set of values though.
    - ethanbond 3y ago
      I don’t think that’s true unless you mistakenly believe things like education, pluralism, academic freedom, secularism, academic integrity, etc are not “values.” They are, and accordingly they’re always for debate and need to be defended.
      - deleted 3y ago
        [deleted]
- MrBuddyCasino 3y ago
  The question that remains is: can it be reformed, or does it have to be replaced.
  - lupire 3y ago
    It's doesn't need either. If Harvard falters, competing universities can draw faculty, students, grants, and donations.
    - MrBuddyCasino 3y ago
      The fact that the issues aren't limited to Harvard, but are endemic, implies that this isn't the Marketplace Of Ideas at work, but rather the result of a system of incentives. This is not an issue that will fix itself via market mechanisms.
Joker_vD 3y ago
> There are elections in Hong Kong, but to get on the ballot you have to be nominated by a committee controlled by Beijing government. Honestly, I am not sure why Chinese even instituted the elections instead of keeping the English system, in which the metropolis appoints the Governor-general who then picks members for his Legislative Council (which had advisory powers and that's it).
- thaumasiotes 3y ago
  > I am not sure why Chinese even instituted the elections instead of keeping the English system, in which the metropolis appoints the Governor-general That would be difficult for a metropolis to do. I tried to find out how this actually worked, and wikipedia states that the Governor-general of British Hong Kong is appointed by the British Crown. I can see why that is no longer the case in specific, but the current system seems fairly analogous.
lupire 3y ago
The HarvardKey has always been a disaster. It also prevented people from accessing their admissions file when Harvard temporarily offered that as part of a lawsuit. The Harvard Faculty (including Dean Harry Lewis, OP) has always had a lot of power. They are the source of Harvard's brand value. I don't know why they can't force admin to be better.
deleted 3y ago
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deleted 3y ago
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trymas 3y ago
FYI, link inside the article harvey4harvard.com now redirects to some scammy ruzzian game/gambling website.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

39 points by mhb 3y ago

culi 3y ago

> But an alternative route to get on the Harvard ballot exists, at least in theory. So-called “petition” candidates have always been rare—but after several climate activists were elected in 2020, the rules were changed to make it even harder. Among other things, the number of petitions to get on the ballot was raised by a factor of fifteen, to more than three thousand. This has been the case with many corporate boards as well in response to "activist investors"

delichon 3y ago

[flagged]

ethanbond 3y ago
Institutions like Harvard are shockingly resilient. Both ridiculously flush with cash and a lot of powerful people are emotionally invested in its success (and its repair). But yeah maybe this round of mean comments from angry outsiders will finally do them in!
- DragonStrength 3y ago
  They're invested in the brand of Harvard and not a set of values though.
  - ethanbond 3y ago
    I don’t think that’s true unless you mistakenly believe things like education, pluralism, academic freedom, secularism, academic integrity, etc are not “values.” They are, and accordingly they’re always for debate and need to be defended.
    - deleted 3y ago
      [deleted]
MrBuddyCasino 3y ago
The question that remains is: can it be reformed, or does it have to be replaced.
- lupire 3y ago
  It's doesn't need either. If Harvard falters, competing universities can draw faculty, students, grants, and donations.
  - MrBuddyCasino 3y ago
    The fact that the issues aren't limited to Harvard, but are endemic, implies that this isn't the Marketplace Of Ideas at work, but rather the result of a system of incentives. This is not an issue that will fix itself via market mechanisms.

Joker_vD 3y ago

> There are elections in Hong Kong, but to get on the ballot you have to be nominated by a committee controlled by Beijing government. Honestly, I am not sure why Chinese even instituted the elections instead of keeping the English system, in which the metropolis appoints the Governor-general who then picks members for his Legislative Council (which had advisory powers and that's it).

thaumasiotes 3y ago
> I am not sure why Chinese even instituted the elections instead of keeping the English system, in which the metropolis appoints the Governor-general That would be difficult for a metropolis to do. I tried to find out how this actually worked, and wikipedia states that the Governor-general of British Hong Kong is appointed by the British Crown. I can see why that is no longer the case in specific, but the current system seems fairly analogous.

lupire 3y ago

The HarvardKey has always been a disaster. It also prevented people from accessing their admissions file when Harvard temporarily offered that as part of a lawsuit. The Harvard Faculty (including Dean Harry Lewis, OP) has always had a lot of power. They are the source of Harvard's brand value. I don't know why they can't force admin to be better.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

trymas 3y ago

FYI, link inside the article harvey4harvard.com now redirects to some scammy ruzzian game/gambling website.

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]