The group, known as Reclaim Harvard, argue that exorbitant tuition fees saddle many graduates with hundreds and thousands of dollars worth of debt before entering the workforce, and disproportionately block those from diverse or lesser privileged backgrounds from accessing a Harvard education.
Financial justice
In an open letter to Harvard Law Dean Martha Minow and members of the Harvard Corporations, the law student activists argue that free education is 'a matter of justice', and that abolishing tuition fees at the prestigious university would considerably boost accessibility and diversity. According to Reclaim Harvard, Harvard Law School's graduating class of 2015 left the university with an 'astronomical' average debt of $149,745 per student. Meanwhile, tuition at Harvard Law School is set to rise to $59,550 for the 2016-2017 academic year.
Racially biased
Core to the students' argument is that Harvard's high fees are biased against black and minority ethnic (BME) students, by placing an insurmountable barrier to accessing a Harvard education for some and, for others, by limiting their career choices after graduation when students from less affluent backgrounds inevitably find themselves saddled with the biggest debts. Advocacy and activism on issues of racial and financial injustice on campus at Harvard follows from the school's recent decision to scrap its controversial former seal—the family crest of Harvard donor and slaveholder Isaac Royall Jr.
Alternative funding
The student group has tentatively suggested that Harvard bridge the shortfall left behind by dismantling tuition by instead relying on endowments and cost-cutting measures to fund the university, including cuts to faculty salaries if necessary. However, the group argues that a lack of transparency around Harvard Law School's budget makes it difficult to draft and test more concrete funding alternatives.
Unsustainable
Harvard Law School spokesperson Robb London has insisted that while the school is committed on expanding access to students from diverse backgrounds and providing aid to students where needed, the proposal that tuition fees be scrapped is neither feasible nor sustainable.
'Such cuts would force us to scale back or even eliminate out clinical programs, and would quickly hamper out ability to attract top-flight faculty and students, and to innovate and lead in legal education,' he said.
Sources: National Law Journal; The Crimson; Reclaim Harvard
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