In the wake of Dr. Claudine Gay's resignation as president of Harvard earlier this week, higher education scholars have forcefully responded to her forced ouster, arguing that she was clearly targeted as the first Black woman to lead the nation's oldest university.
Across social media and on cable talk shows, many seem to view Gay’s persecution and resignation as emblematic of the targeting of higher ed and minority presidents by some conservatives. And in an era where bans books are being banned and affirmative action dismantled, their suspicions are rightfully justified.
"I think this is a sign of governmental overreach into the autonomy of higher education,” said Dr. Lynn Pasquerella, president of the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), of which Harvard is a member. She said that she was saddened but not surprised by Gay's resignation. “The escalating culture wars have included a targeted attack on higher education by those who view college campuses as bastions of liberal progressivism."
Dr. Claudine Gay
The intense scrutiny Gay was put under for her responses during a Congressional hearing on antisemitism in early December and her alleged plagiarism was demonstrative of governmental intrusion and a political attack against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) on campuses, scholars and education observers have lamented.
Pasquerella said Gay’s comments during the congressional hearing were “missteps” but urged people to examine the larger political context and motivations behind the hearing.
During that hearing, House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, an ardent Trump supporter, aggressively questioned Gay and the presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania about whether calls for “the genocide of Jews” would constitute conduct violations on campus.
