Boaz Barak, a computer science professor at Harvard, emphasizes the importance of maintaining professionalism by keeping politics out of the classroom, despite his personal involvement in political activism outside of it. He argues that blurring the lines between academia and activism can harm both fields and contribute to the decline in public trust in higher education. Barak notes that this decline is exacerbated by recent political pressures and the trend of bringing personal ideologies into professional spaces, which has led to increased polarization. He asserts the value of teaching objective truths and collaborative skills through computer science, which can make students better citizens. Ultimately, Barak believes that universities should focus on their strengths in education and research to restore public trust, rather than engaging in political discourse or agendas that fall outside their expertise.

Boaz Barak, an Israeli American professor at Harvard, has been active in denouncing antisemitism and participating in related campus activities, yet he chooses not to discuss these issues in his computer science classes to maintain a focus on academic professionalism.

He observes a significant decline in public confidence in higher education, citing Gallup polls showing a reduction in trust from both Republicans and Democrats, and attributes part of this to the merging of scholarship with activism.

Barak critiques the current trend of bringing personal and political identities into professional environments, suggesting it has positive aspects like inclusivity, but warns it often leads to undue pressure on institutions to take political stances, thereby increasing societal polarization.

He argues that while computer science inherently interacts with societal issues, teaching should remain objective and multifaceted, offering various perspectives, as seen in his approach to teaching cryptography and discussing its implications on privacy and security.

Despite acknowledging the real-world intersections of academic expertise, Barak believes that academics should refrain from overstepping into policy advocacy, as this can reduce trust in academia rather than influencing policy effectively.

Barak calls for academia to refocus on its core mission of education and research to help rebuild trust, emphasizing that the majority of faculty are committed to this mission, despite the outsized perception created by a few politically active members.

He highlights that both left and right political extremes contribute to the politicization of all aspects of life, including academia, and stresses the importance of preserving nonpartisan educational environments to foster better citizenship among students.