Claudine Gay, the first Black president of Harvard University, has announced her resignation after facing allegations of plagiarism and criticism over her testimony on antisemitism at a congressional hearing. Gay, who took office in July 2023, said she would return to her position as a member of the faculty.
Plagiarism claims spark inquiry
Gay’s academic integrity came under scrutiny after several reports claimed that she had copied passages from other sources without proper citation in her dissertation and published papers. The Harvard Corporation, the university’s governing body, conducted a review of her work and found five instances of “inadequate citation” that required corrections. However, the board said that Gay did not violate “standards for research misconduct” and expressed its support for her.
The plagiarism allegations also prompted a congressional committee to expand its investigation into antisemitism at Harvard to include Gay’s academic papers. The Committee on Education and the Workforce, led by Republican Chairwoman Virginia Foxx, said it wanted to see if students and staff were held to the same academic standard. The committee demanded that Harvard submit any documents and communications related to the plagiarism inquiry into Gay and a list of any disciplinary actions taken against faculty or students since 2019.
Antisemitism testimony sparks backlash
Gay’s resignation also came amid a backlash over her response to questions about antisemitism on U.S. college campuses at a congressional hearing in November 2023. Gay and other university leaders were accused of insensitivity and hypocrisy when discussing efforts to stem antisemitism on their campuses amid the Israel-Gaza war. Gay was criticized for evading a question about whether she considered the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel to be antisemitic. She also faced condemnation for failing to acknowledge the rise of antisemitism on campus and the harassment of Jewish students and faculty.
Gay’s testimony drew protests from Jewish groups, students and alumni, who called for her resignation and an apology. Some also questioned her leadership and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Gay defended her testimony and said she was committed to combating antisemitism and fostering a respectful and safe environment for all members of the Harvard community.
Gay’s legacy and future
Gay, a political scientist and sociologist, was appointed as the 29th president of Harvard in April 2023, becoming the first woman and the first person of color to lead the prestigious institution. She was praised for her academic achievements, her vision for the future of higher education and her advocacy for social justice and equity. She also launched several initiatives to address the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis and the racial reckoning in the U.S.
Gay said she was proud of her accomplishments and grateful for the opportunity to serve as Harvard’s president. She also expressed her regret for the controversies that marred her tenure and apologized for any mistakes she made. She said she hoped that her resignation would allow the university to move forward and heal. She did not specify when her resignation would take effect or who would succeed her.
