Harvard’s president, Claudine Gay, resigned on Tuesday amidst a series of plagiarism allegations that eroded her standing with the university’s faculty, students, and alumni. However, for many of Dr. Gay’s critics, her departure also marked a victory in the ongoing ideological battle over American higher education.
Josh Hammer, a conservative talk show host and writer, described taking down Dr. Gay as “a huge scalp” in the “fight for civilizational sanity.”
Conservative commentator Liz Wheeler labeled the departure as “a crushing loss to D.E.I.wokeism, antisemitism & university elitism,” while conservative activist Christopher Rufo claimed it marked the “beginning of the end for D.E.I. in America’s institutions.”
Conservative-inspired efforts to reform higher education, previously concentrated in public universities in right-leaning states, saw an unexpected victory with Dr. Gay’s resignation from Harvard, a prestigious private university.
John D. Sailer, a senior fellow at the National Association of Scholars, a conservative education nonprofit, expressed hope that Dr. Gay’s resignation would generate momentum for education reform.
Despite many defending Dr. Gay, arguing that her resignation would lead to conservative interference in universities and compromise academic freedom, others have criticized Harvard’s handling of campus free speech issues during Dr. Gay’s tenure.
The resignation drew mixed reactions, with some expressing concerns about Republican lawmakers targeting the independence of colleges and universities, while others questioned the effectiveness of Dr. Gay’s leadership. There were also complaints over Harvard’s response to campus antisemitism.
Some perceived the resignation as a result of effective political theater and public pressure, especially following the last month’s highly viewed congressional hearing where Dr. Gay defended a student’s right to engage in anti-Jewish speech.
The critical re-examination of Dr. Gay’s academic work by conservative activists and outlets led to further scrutiny and public allegations of plagiarism, which were ultimately associated with broader criticisms of elite academia.
Republican lawmakers vowed to continue to expose issues in prestigious higher education institutions through further actions. It remains to be seen whether the resignation of Dr. Gay will prompt broader changes in higher education.
Dr. Gay was also criticized for her stance on racial justice issues on campus, with some labeling the selection of Dr. Gay as Harvard’s president a “thinly veiled exercise in race & gender.” Harvard’s announcement of her departure did not indicate any wrongdoing by Dr. Gay, leaving some to speculate about the reasons behind her resignation.
Harvard’s resignation of Dr. Gay may have implications for the broader landscape of higher education, particularly regarding government funding and the broader public opinion about reforming academia.
The impact of Dr. Gay’s resignation on the future of higher education remains uncertain. Despite efforts to reform academia, public opinion suggests resistance to direct government involvement in deciding academic curriculum in U.S. universities.
Dana Goldstein and Annie Karni contributed reporting to this story.
