Harvard takes a small step forward

That the arc of history bends toward justice is questionable at best. Just ask the East Europeans trapped behind the Iron Curtain in 1945, who had to live in communist tyranny for decades. But something good is happening in the protracted culture war with universities. Harvard, for one, just flew a white flag.

By announcing that it would cease issuing statements that are not “relevant to the core function of the university,” the oldest and iviest in the hallowed Ivy League was admitting that previous pretentious declarations on nonuniversity issues chilled the free pursuit of truth.