In the wake of recent issues, more than 500 academic members of Harvard University have written a statement to the university’s governing bodies supporting University President Claudine Gay and her leadership. After Gay was criticized for failing to explicitly state if advocating for the genocide of Jews violates the university’s conduct regulations during her testimony at a congressional hearing that examined the increase of antisemitism on the Harvard campus, this support was offered to her.
In response to mounting demands for Gay’s dismissal from the university by both donors and lawmakers, the Harvard Corporation and the Harvard Board of Overseers met on Sunday to deliberate the matter. An article in the Harvard Crimson stated that the Harvard Corporation is contemplating endorsing Gay publicly as well.
In a stark contrast to what’s happening at Harvard, Penn’s president Liz Magill stepped down after giving identical testimony during a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing. While everything was going on, MIT President Sally Kornbluth was lauded for her moral integrity and strong leadership by the institution.
Maya R. Jasanoff and other history professors produced a letter in which 511 Harvard faculty members demanded that the university reject political demands, such as those to fire Gay, and instead maintain its dedication to academic freedom.
Speaking to the Harvard Crimson, Jasanoff said that the uproar was based on misunderstood “soundbites” from the hearing and that we should reassess where free speech and academic freedom end on campus.
One heated exchange occurred when House GOP Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik questioned Gay, Magill, and Kornbluth about whether or not statements advocating Jewish genocide were in violation of university behavior regulations. Stefanik was adamant that Gay provide a conclusive response, even though Gay’s response took into account the context of such utterances.
Afterwards, Gay conveyed her remorse for how she had handled the matter, stressing her unwavering position against acts of violence and threats directed towards Harvard’s Jewish community.
In particular, 74 House lawmakers from both parties have criticized Harvard and called for new leadership, while prominent alumni like billionaire Bill Ackman have voiced their disapproval. Ackman said that Gay’s activities caused a considerable drop in contributions and that she was also responsible for the rise of antisemitism on campus.
Professors Derek J. Penslar and others at Harvard University defended the letter that supported Gay, saying that it was a protest against outside interference in university governance rather than an excuse for how the university dealt with antisemitism.
Renowned professors Laurence H. Tribe (Harvard Law School) and Annette Gordon-Reed (Pulitzer Prize winner) are among those who have signed the petition. Tribe had previously attacked Gay’s testimony before Congress.
Harvard Divinity School visiting scholar Rabbi David Wolpe resigned from the antisemitism advisory committee following the hearing, voicing his strong disapproval of the dominant ideologies on campus and how they marginalized Jewish experiences and viewpoints.