Harvard President Claudine Gay Resigns Following New Accusations

Harvard President Claudine Gay announced her resignation on Tuesday amid compounding controversies.

For Context: In early December, the presidents of MIT, UPenn, and Harvard testified before Congress regarding anti-semitism on American college campuses. The presidents were widely criticized for their reluctance to answer certain questions from Congress members, specifically whether students calling for the genocide of Jewish people constitutes a violation of campus policy. The president of UPenn resigned shortly after the testimonies, but Gay’s position initially appeared safe after Harvard’s board unanimously backed her. In the weeks following, Gay’s academic work came under scrutiny as claims arose that she had plagiarized portions of her scholarly publications. She subsequently issued corrections to these publications, adding additional citations. On Monday, another round of plagiarism accusations emerged.

Key Quotes: In her announcement letter, Gay stated that after “consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.”

Details: Gay’s stint as Harvard President is the shortest in the history of the university. Taking office in July 2023, Gay was the first black president of Harvard and the second woman to hold the position. Alan Garber, Harvard’s provost and chief academic officer, will serve as interim president until a replacement is found.

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum prominently reported on Gay’s resignation.