Harvard Shakeup: Claudine Gay's Resignation Sparks Debate on Race and Politics
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Guardian
Claudine Gay, the first Black president of Harvard, resigned after a campaign against her involving accusations of antisemitism and plagiarism. In an op-ed, she warned that the tactics used to undermine her credibility are part of a larger effort to erode trust in American institutions. Gay admitted to mistakes, including not forcefully condemning antisemitism, and acknowledged using language from other academics without proper attribution. However, she defended her scholarship's value and originality. Critics of Gay, like Bill Ackman, have broader goals to oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across U.S. universities. Gay's resignation has sparked discussions on racism, with her receiving death threats and racist insults. Despite the controversy, Gay emphasized the importance of her work on minority representation in politics.