A recent scoop by the New York Post on December 22, 2023, it’s been revealed that former President Barack Obama is working behind the scenes to convince Harvard University to stick with President Claudine Gay. She’s been under fire for allegedly covering up antisemitism and facing plagiarism accusations.
Obama, a Harvard Law School alum, apparently made private pleas to let Gay stay put, causing quite a stir and putting Harvard’s leadership integrity in the hot seat.
This move by Obama comes after Gay’s controversial testimony, where she suggested certain contextual situations might make calls for the genocide of Jews acceptable. The report hints that Obama’s involvement is all about maintaining stability in the broader administration.
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It’s not clear whether Obama’s efforts continued after plagiarism allegations surfaced, making people question the legitimacy of Gay’s scholarly work.
Neither Obama’s spokesperson nor Harvard offered immediate comments, adding fuel to the speculation fire.
Penny Pritzker, former Obama Commerce Secretary and a big shot at Harvard, has a say in Gay’s fate. Pritzker played a pivotal role in appointing Gay as president. A Harvard Corporation investigation found some issues in Gay’s 1997 dissertation but not in other published works.
The controversy heated up when the House Education Committee demanded internal records from Harvard about the scandal, worrying about the university’s credibility. Critics, like Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), fear the university’s failure to address academic dishonesty may harm its mission.
Despite calls for Gay’s resignation, Harvard Corporation members are standing firm, expressing confidence in her ability to tackle societal issues. However, the controversy has hit their wallets, with donors holding back due to disagreements over Gay’s views on Israel and antisemitism.
Prominent figures, including New York Times columnist John McWhorter, insist on Gay’s resignation, citing numerous instances of improper attribution that they say harm her credibility.
