Harvard University is facing backlash after its student newspaper, The Harvard Crimson, published an editorial defending Gregory K. Davis, a resident dean whose past social media posts described police officers as “racist” and “evil.” Davis, appointed in July 2024 to serve as the resident dean of Dunster House, made several controversial statements from 2016 to 2020, including declaring “I’ve never met a good cop” and asserting that “whiteness is a self-destructive ideology that annihilates everyone around it.”
In addition to his criticism of law enforcement, Davis responded to news of former President Donald Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis by stating, “If he dies, he dies,” a post that also resurfaced. Critics argue these statements reflect deep bias and question Davis’s ability to serve impartially in a leadership position responsible for guiding undergraduate students.
Despite the public outcry, The Harvard Crimson defended Davis in an editorial, claiming his remarks were made during the emotionally charged political climate surrounding the Black Lives Matter protests. The editorial board asserted that political participation should not disqualify someone from campus leadership and argued that removing Davis would validate what it called “politically prejudiced” attacks.
However, dissenting voices within the same publication raised concerns. One editorial board member, Henry P. Moss IV, wrote that Davis’s public comments demonstrate a lack of the neutrality expected of resident deans and risk undermining trust among students with differing views.
As the university continues to face scrutiny, the administration has not issued a formal response or indicated whether it will reassess Davis’s position. The situation has intensified ongoing debates on campus over the boundaries of free speech, professional responsibility, and the role of personal conduct in university leadership.
