Steve Kerr has never been one to shy away from standing up for his beliefs. That continued on Tuesday night as the Warriors’ head coach wore a Harvard basketball shirt during his post-game press conference — making a strong statement about educational freedom.
“I believe in academic freedom. I think it’s crucial for all of our institutions to be able to handle their own business the way they want to — and they should not be shaken down, told what to teach, what to say by our government. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, but it’s kind of par for the course right now. Yes, this is me supporting Harvard. Way to go. Way to stand up to the bully.”
The battle between Harvard University and the Trump Administration continues after the school refused to work with the Department of Education on government initiatives the federal government claims fights antisemitism in universities — but critics believe are trying to violate First Amendment rights by banning students from protesting Israel’s occupation of Palestine and Gaza. In addition, Harvard president Alan Garber said the government’s initiatives aim to limit intellectual freedom, potentially shaping what the university can, and can’t teach.
As a result $2.2B has been withheld from Harvard, with President Trump quipping that the school should lose its tax-exempt status for being a a political entity.
This issue hits particularly close to home for Kerr. His father, Malcolm, was the president at the American University of Beirut where he was vocal about conflict in the Middle East. Widely viewed as a centrist who was equally critical of Israeli and Arab politics in the region during the 1970s and 80s, Malcolm Kerr was assassinated outside his office in 1984 when two gunmen shot him outside his office on the university campus. The Islamic Jihad Organization claimed responsibility, but their motives are still unknown. It’s posited that Kerr’s outspoken criticism of hardline Arab politics may have contributed to his assassination.
Steve Kerr knows innately the dangers of universities becoming beholden to government, regardless of which side of the spectrum they’re on. Which is why the Harvard University issue is likely so important to him.
