Harvard President Claudine Gay resigns amid ongoing controversy

Jan 2

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer, Video Editor)

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Harvard President Claudine Gay resigned on Tuesday, Jan. 2, marking the shortest presidency in the university’s history since its founding in 1636. Gay’s tenure lasted just six months and two days long.

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“It is with a heavy heart but a deep love for Harvard that I write to share that I will be stepping down as president,” Gay wrote in her resignation letter.

Gay has faced criticism for her comments to Congress regarding Harvard protests of the war in Gaza and accusations of antisemitism on campus. Accusations of plagiarism in her academic papers also surround her.

Harvard President Claudine Gay speaks during a hearing of the House Committee on Education on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) — AP Images

“It has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and upholding scholarly rigor — two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am,” Gay said.

Harvard President Claudine Gay will resign Tuesday afternoon, bringing an end to the shortest presidency in the University's history, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.

From @HaidarEmma & @cam_kettles https://t.co/uSQbyGZkRp
— The Harvard Crimson (@thecrimson) January 2, 2024

The Harvard Corporation, one of the two governing boards for the university, issued a statement expressing gratitude for her tenure as president and acknowledging her decision to step down and resume her faculty position.

Currently, Gay serves as the director of Graduate Studies for Harvard. She is also a professor of Government and of African-American Studies.

Alan Garber, the provost and chief academic officer, will assume the role of interim president until the appointment of a new leader.

Tags: antisemitism, Claudine Gay, Gaza, Hamas, Harvard, Israel, Universities

[Lauren Taylor]

EMBATTLED HARVARD PRESIDENT CLAUDINE GAY RESIGNED AS PRESIDENT OF HARVARD TUESDAY — MARKING THE SHORTEST PRESIDENCY IN HARVARD’S HISTORY SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 16-36 — JUST SIX MONTHS AND TWO DAYS LONG.

IN HER RESIGNATION LETTER GAY SAID – IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART BUT A DEEP LOVE FOR HARVARD THAT I WRITE TO SHARE THAT I WILL BE STEPPING DOWN AS PRESIDENT.

GAY HAS FACED CRITICISM FOR HER COMMENTS TO CONGRESS REGARDING HARVARD PROTESTS OF THE WAR IN GAZA AND ACCUSATIONS OF ANTI-SEMITISM ON CAMPUS. SHE IS ALSO ACCUSED OF PLAGIARISM IN HER ACADEMIC PAPERS.

GAY EXPRESSED — IT HAS BEEN DISTRESSING TO HAVE DOUBT CAST ON MY COMMITMENTS TO CONFRONTING HATE AND TO UPHOLDING SCHOLARLY RIGOR —TWO BEDROCK VALUES THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO WHO I AM.

THE HARVARD CORPORATION – ONE OF THE TWO GOVERNING BOARDS FOR THE UNIVERSITY – ISSUED A STATEMENT EXPRESSING GRATITUDE FOR HER TENURE AS PRESIDENT – ACKNOWLEDGING HER DECISION TO STEP DOWN AND RESUME HER FACULTY POSITION.

CURRENTLY GAY SERVES AS THE DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE STUDIES FOR HARVARD AND IS A PROFESSOR OF GOVERNMENT AND AFRICAN AND AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDIES.

ALAN GARBER, THE PROVOST AND CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER WILL SERVE AS INTERIM PRESIDENT UNTIL A NEW LEADER IS APPOINTED.