Harvard to investigate after students complain of classroom microaggressions, 'slights/insults

Seven courses at the Harvard School of Public Health were flagged for review by administrators this year after students reported in-class microaggressions and “verbal or nonverbal slights/insults,” the Harvard Crimson reported.

Online course evaluations showed 85 students responding “yes” to a question asking if they'd experienced in-class microaggressions, the paper said, citing data from Nancy Turnbull, senior associate dean for professional education at the School of Public Health.

At what rate did students hear insults in class?

In 43 of 138 courses evaluated over the most recent two academic terms, at least one student reported hearing insults, the Crimson reported.

Courses 'flagged for special review and attention'

The seven courses “flagged for special review and attention" each received three or more “yes” responses to the microaggressions question — and 36 reports of microaggressions in total, the paper said.

The Crimson added that the question on the course evaluation forms specifically asks if students encountered any “verbal or nonverbal slights/insults (whether intentional or unintentional) that negatively targeted a particular identity group" — and that the insults could be student-to-student or from faculty members.

What are examples of identity groups?

The form lists “age, disability status, gender, immigration status, linguistic background, nationality, political views, race/ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socioeconomic class” as identity group examples.

This writer's perspective

If you're looking for your money's worth in the getting-insulted department, are there any more prestigious folk out there who can knock you down a few pegs than Harvard professors and Harvard students?

Not that they have anything on Dr. House, of course:

(H/T: Campus Reform)