The Harvard President’s Voluntary Pay Cut Is a Strong Signal

204

May 24, 2025

Published in Der Standard
(Austria) on 15 May 2025
by Karin Bauer (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Kirsty Low. Edited by Laurence Bouvard.

Alan Garber is leading by example and reducing his own salary — a noble approach top managers could emulate when budget cuts are necessary.

Alan Garber, president of the elite Harvard University, has inadvertently found himself spearheading the resistance against the attacks of the U.S. president, who wants to get rid of diversity programs and narratives he dislikes. First, Donald Trump froze $2.2 billion in federal grants. Then, he tried to abolish tax breaks to bring Garber to his knees. He was unsuccessful because Garber sued.

Now, another sum of $450 million is set to be withdrawn under the banner of “combating antisemitism.” Heading into the next round, Garber has opted to waive 25% of his annual salary, which totals around $1 million. It's true that this figure is a tiny fraction of the elite university's budget and isn't disastrous for the Garber family's finances. But Garber is sending a smart, strong signal in many directions.

A Sense of Nobility and Duty

First of all, Garber is delivering a message to Trump and other financial backers. But above all, he is sending a signal to those within his institution and his fellow academic administrators that the constitutional freedom of universities is the basis of a democracy, and we must defend it.

In addition, Garber is demonstrating a noble leadership quality and setting an example by tightening his own belt at a time when others' budgets have to be cut. Top managers looking to lay off staff here in Austria could view this as a practical example of responsible leadership. This card cannot be played all the time, but it could be played in times of great need.

Alan Garber beginnt bei sich selbst und reduziert sein Einkommen – an diese Tugend könnten sich Spitzenmanager erinnern, wenn sie Budgets kürzen müssen

Alan Garber, Präsident der Elite-Uni Harvard, wurde unfreiwillig zur Speerspitze im Kampf gegen die Angriffe des US-Präsidenten, der ihm unliebsame Diversitätsprogramme und Diskurse entfernen will. Zuerst fror Donald Trump umgerechnet rund zwei Milliarden Euro Zuschüsse ein, dann strich er Steuervorteile, um Garber in die Knie zu zwingen. Erfolglos, denn Garber klagte.

Jetzt geht es erneut um 400 Millionen, die entzogen werden sollen – unter dem Titel "Antisemitismusbekämpfung". Garber geht in die nächste Runde und verzichtet auf 25 Prozent seiner Gage von rund einer Million Dollar im Jahr. Das ist zwar unerheblich für das Budget der Elite-Uni, für das Garber'sche Familienbudget nicht desaströs. Aber es ist ein kluges und in viele Richtungen starkes Signal.

Tugend und Pflicht

Zunächst ist es ein Signal nach außen an Trump und an die anderen Geldgeber. Aber vor allem in das eigene Haus hinein und zu den Kolleginnen und Kollegen im Wissenschaftsmanagement: Die verfassungsmäßige Freiheit der Universitäten ist Grundlage einer Demokratie, und wir müssen sie verteidigen.

Dazu kommt noch die Tugend, als Spitzenmanager voranzugehen, wenn es darum geht, den Gürtel enger zu schnallen, wenn anderen das Budget gekürzt werden muss. Das könnten sich auch heimische Topmanager, die Personal abbauen, als Signal der gelebten Verantwortung überlegen. Andauernd lässt sich diese Karte nicht spielen – in Zeiten großer Not wäre sie aber aufgelegt.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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