Is Slashing the incomes of contracted labor at the richest university a demonstration of Inclusive Excellence? An Open Letter to President Bacow

Inclusion and belonging, in my mind, is partly about building community. It’s about helping people to see themselves as part of Harvard when they look at Harvard. Great institutions find ways of capitalizing on the full range of ideas, experiences, backgrounds, and personalities to create a great community. Ultimately, diversity not only makes Harvard a more interesting place, it enhances the learning environment for everyone.

Lawrence S. Bacow, President of Harvard University

Dear President Bacow,

My question is, what actions do you take that demonstrate that you support inclusive excellence? The dining hall workers, security guards, custodial workers, and contracted labor have the highest concentration of BIPOC people at Harvard University, and they are the most essential and least valued in our community. Slashing their incomes demonstrates elitism, a lack of respect for their lives, and a lack of respect for the surrounding community, as this will add to the burden of an already inadequate social safety net. Do Black and Brown lives matter, only when they have overcome the persistent obstacles placed in front of them denying them the most basic of human needs? When individual effort and luck has allowed them to achieve academic excellence, or when they are the subject of a viral news story? That is an inhumane and barbaric idea, yet facts seem to bear this idea out.

People without income are more vulnerable to coronavirus, and have less access to good healthcare. These are the same people we depend upon most to do the most necessary, but least academically lauded of jobs. There is no learning without life. I'm sure your ability to pay contracted labor through the pandemic has no bearing on your ability to provide financial aid to students, and that it is a disingenuous opposition, to pit disadvantaged students against disadvantaged workers, so that the corporation can maximize its already humungous endowment.

The Federal government is stalling on a coronavirus relief bill, and only one stimulus check was released since the pandemic started in March. Harvard should not turn its back on people who provide essential services and want and need to work to sustain their lives, families, and communities. This subversion of the values you claim to uphold directly contributes to perpetuating systemic racism and inequality.

In Memoriam

Philando Castile, Cafeteria Worker, July 6, 2016

Breonna Taylor, EMT, March 13, 2020

Alvin Simmons, Custodian, March 17, 2020

George Floyd, Security Guard, May 25, 2020

Deirdre Edwards, Custodian, April 7, 2020

Andres Guardardo, Security Guard, June 10, 2020