The Latest News

March 28, 2026

Summer course alert!

Through UMass-Lowell, I am teaching an asynchronous, online course on the philosophies of gender and race this summer. The course is open to undergraduates everywhere. Please check with your university’s registrar to confirm credits.

I am also scheduled to teach an in-person summer school course at Harvard University: “The Practices of Freedom,” which is a course, based on my book, on the philosophies and histories of freedom in the United States, which also consists of an archival research component.

But, there is a problem: Yesterday, March 27th, I was notified that Harvard is cancelling my course, based on “data.” I found their logic (extant “data” on courses that have no relevance to mine) suspicious. My syllabus was approved one week prior, on March 20th, so I’ve had less than a week to promote the course.

What makes this extremely problematic? This past week (the week of March 23rd), the Trump administration filed new lawsuits (yes, plural) against Harvard.

I am trying to fight this cancellation. There are no other courses at Harvard proposing a study of and research on freedom in the United States — timely, doncha think?

I have asked for two weeks to secure enough students to fill whatever imaginary quota they have. (To note: on the course page, Harvard does not list a registration deadline, which certainly suggests to interested students that they have plenty of time to register for this course, which does not begin until the END OF JUNE.)

I am furious (especially since the Schlesinger just acquired Barbara Smith’s papers). I will fight this as much as I can. Otherwise, I will take this course elsewhere.

Thanks to all for your support,

~ Marcie