University of Pennsylvania Liz Magill is the only one of the three ivy league presidents to have stepped down following their testimony last week – but pressure is mounting on Harvard to let go of Gay.
While pressure is mounting on Gay to resign- with two billboard trucks replaying Gay’s testimony around the Harvard campus and demanding her firing – she appears to have the university’s institutional support.
The Executive Committee of Harvard University’s Alumni Association announced their full support for the scholar, and asked the school’s governing boards to publicly back her, according to the The Harvard Crimson.
The group wrote: ‘President Gay is the right leader to guide the University during this challenging time… She is thoughtful. She is kind. She is resolutely dedicated to the growth and wellbeing of our very diverse community. We recognize that there was disappointment in her testimony this past week. President Gay has pointed this out and apologized for any pain her testimony caused–a powerful demonstration of her integrity, determination, and courage.’
On Sunday, bloggers Rufo and Brunet accused Gay of using nearly verbatim language from authors Lawrence Bobo and Franklin Gilliam, as well as scholar Carol Swain.
Swain reacted to the claims on Twitter, writing: ‘ I just learned of analysis of #ClaudineGay ’s work and the allegations of plagiarism. Dr. Gay’s committee, reviewers, and colleagues should have caught these alleged transgressions’
Swain reacted to the claims on Twitter, writing: ‘I just learned of analysis of #ClaudineGay ’s work and the allegations of plagiarism. I have not read the articles or books in question. However, two things come to mind: imitation is said to be the highest form of flattery and secondly Dr. Gay’s committee, reviewers, and colleagues should have caught these alleged transgressions.’
However, Harvard professor Lobo, one of those allegedly plagiarized by Gay, told the Boston Globe: ‘I find myself unconcerned about these claims as our work was explicitly acknowledged.’
Generally, Harvard’s institutional groups seems to be standing by Gay.
More than 640 Harvard faculty members signed a letter in support of Gay, urging the school to resist calls to fire her, describing the attacks against her as ‘politically motivated.’
Harvard legal scholar Lawrence Tribe, who previously slammed Gay’s testimony as ‘deeply troubling’ told CNN he signed the petition because “once external pressures, whether from ultrawealthy donors or from politicians pursuing their ideological agendas, override the internal decision-making processes of universities, we are on the road to tyranny.”
The association’s move follows an open letter by Ackman to Harvard, his alma mater, accusing Gay of ‘doing more damage to Harvard’s reputation than anyone in the university’s history.’
Ackman, on his part, demanded that the university’s board of directors review Gay’s history, including accusations of plagiarism, and of discriminatingly against those that don’t fit the look of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).
Ackman also mentioned the case of former Winthrop House faculty dean Ronald Sullivan, who in 2019 accused Gay of dismissing him from his role because of his work on Harvey Weinstein’s defense team.
The law professor, who was the first black dean of a Harvard school, accused Gay and Dean of the College Rakesh Khurana of lying about their motives for dismissing him when they claimed it was because he fostered a toxic work environment.
‘The actions were cowardly and craven and Dean Gay and Dean Khurana just consistently and repeatedly lied to the student body and they know better,’ he said, according to The Harvard Crimson.
‘Their problem was that I represented an unpopular person… They said it to my face and other senior members said it to my face and then they turned around and lied to the student body.’
Ackman said: ‘As Dean, Gay showed no respect for basic American legal principles when she fired Harvard Law School Professor Ronald Sullivan as residential dean for taking on the legal defense of Harvey Weinstein. President Gay should hope that someday when she needs counsel, she will be able to obtain quality representation for herself.’
Harvard has denied the decision was because of Sullivan’s work with Weinstein, which sparked protests on campus. Sullivan remains a law professor at Harvard.
In his letter to the Harvard board, Ackman also cited Harvard’s plummeting in the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) College Free Speech Rankings since Gay took over. While the school has never been high on the list, it reached its worst-ever ranking, landing at the very last spot.
FIRE said: ‘Harvard completed its downward spiral in dramatic fashion, coming in dead last with the worst score ever: 0.00 out of a possible 100.00. This earns it the notorious distinction of being the only school ranked this year with an “Abysmal” speech climate.’
