Building a respectful community
At the Department of Government, we believe that we are at our best when the voices in our communities reflect variety in perspectives and experiences. Our goal is to create conditions where all voices in the department are heard, valued, and respected equally. Different backgrounds and perspectives strengthen our intellectual and social environment as we learn from one another and support each other in our joint endeavor to understand the world.
Principles for Respectful Community Engagement
Respectful behavior is a critical component of being part of the Harvard Government Department. It enables everyone in our community to do their best work in a supportive and constructive environment. All community members are thus expected to engage respectfully with one another, regardless of differences in opinion, background, or formal or informal status within the department. Personal attacks against other community members on any basis – including personal appearance, country of origin, accent, political views, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. – stand completely contrary to our principles of respectful engagement. Adhering to these principles will help the Government Department to be a place that embodies Harvard’s core values, including cultivating bonds and bridges that enable all to grow with and learn from one another. These principles apply to both in-person and online interactions and should not be taken to discourage disagreements about ideas and evidence. Such discussions, undertaken respectfully, are core to the scholarly mission of the department and to the ongoing task of making the Government Department a better place to work and study.
Department of Government Equity Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDI Committee)
The Department of Government’s EDI Committee is composed of faculty, students, and staff. The committee leads department efforts to foster a respectful and inclusive community among all members of the department.
AY 2023–24 Committee Members
Ryan Enos, Chair
Nadia Douglas, student
Fran Hagopian, faculty
Pia Raffler, faculty
Laura Royden, student
Monica Tesoriero, ex officio
Thom Wall, staff
Harvard Resources
FAS Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (ODIB) Resources
https://odib.fas.harvard.edu/resources
Harvard Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging
https://edib.harvard.edu/