United States: Claudine Gay forced to resign as President of Harvard University
Claudine Gay will have left an indelible mark on the prestigious Harvard University in the United States for two reasons. Last July, this professor of political science was appointed president of the prestigious institution located in Cambridge, near Boston, a first for a Black woman. She will also be remembered as the leader with the shortest tenure in the university’s history since its founding in 1636.
Claudine Gay announced her departure on January 2nd, surrounded by controversies. She faced accusations of plagiarism related to her academic work.
More importantly, she came under criticism for not explicitly condemning calls for the genocide of Jews during a congressional hearing on combating anti-Semitism on campuses.
«With a heavy heart but with deep love for Harvard, I write to announce that I am stepping down from my position as president», said Claudine Gay, 53, in a resignation letter published on Tuesday.
«It has become clear to me that it is in Harvard’s interest that I resign so that our community can navigate this extraordinary challenging time by focusing on the institution rather than on me», she wrote.
Last week, Claudine Gay and her counterparts from the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Elizabeth Magill and Sally Kornbluth, were questioned by members of the House of Representatives.
The three leaders were asked about tensions within American faculties since the start of the conflict between Hamas and Israel on October 7.
Republican lawmaker Elise Stefanik had asked them if «calling for the genocide of Jews violated Harvard’s harassment policy».
Claudine Gay replied, «It can, depending on the context», adding, «If it’s directed against a person».
«If speech becomes action, it can become harassment», Magill had responded to the same question. «It’s a decision that depends on the context».
Their answers caused an outcry, reaching even the White House, whose spokesperson, Andrew Bates, deemed it “incredible that this has to be said: calls for genocide are monstrous.”
Accused of «downplaying» anti-Semitic abuses on their campuses, the three leaders later attempted to backtrack on their statements.
Claudine Gay offered apologies, stating that she got caught up in a heated exchange and did not correctly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.
«What I should have had the presence of mind to do at that moment is return to the truth that guides me, namely that calls for violence against our Jewish community have no place at Harvard and will never go unanswered», she said.
Pedro OKALAMAR
