(JTA) — Martin Peretz has been dropped as a speaker from a Harvard University event.
Peretz, the editor in chief of The New Republic and a former Harvard professor, had been scheduled to speak at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Committee on Degrees in Social Studies, scheduled for Sept. 25, according to the Harvard Crimson, the university’s student newspaper.
But the final schedule for the program does not list Peretz as a speaker. He is to be recognized, however, along with several other head tutors and directors of studies.
Peretz raised hackles recently for writing on a New Republic blog post that Muslims do not value human life or deserve free speech.
"Muslim life is cheap, especially to other Muslims," he wrote in the Sept. 4 post.
An undergraduate research endowment fund in Peretz’s name was created recently by his family and friends, according to the Crimson, which also said that the fund’s proposed amount had increased from $500,000 to $650,000 in the last week from alumni contributions. The growth has been interpreted as an indication of alumni support to honor Peretz at the program.
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