Harvard devotes $100m to closing educational gap caused by slavery

President says institution has helped to perpetuate racial oppression and exploitation' as it establishes endowment fund

Harvard University is setting aside $100m for an endowment fund and other measures to close the educational, social and economic gaps that are legacies of slavery and racism, according to an email the university's president sent to all students, faculty and staff on Tuesday.

The email from Harvard's president, Lawrence Bacow, included a link to a 100-page report by his university's 14-member committee on Harvard and the legacy of slavery and acknowledged that the elite institution helped to perpetuate ... racial oppression and exploitation".