The Curious Case of Claudine Gay

[George K]

From the Harvard Crimson - Dissent: For Harvard’s Sake, It’s Time to Let Gay Go

University President Claudine Gay should resign.

It has been less than half a year since Gay assumed one of the most prestigious posts in all of academia. Since then, scandal after scandal has plagued our beloved university.

The president of Harvard must be a formidable leader, capable of managing thousands of the brightest minds on the planet, a widely revered international brand, and a multi-billion-dollar bureaucratic behemoth. Further, by way of its field-leading eminences, Harvard exerts influence — and encounters controversy — at the highest levels of politics and policymaking, which often presents challenges for its leader and public face.

In other words, Harvard’s presidency is no mere empty honor; it is a deeply challenging managerial job with deeply challenging duties, not least of which is navigating national outcry.

In each of these respects, Gay has failed. The Harvard Corporation must find a leader who can do better.

More at the link.

From the RWEC:

These are two of the Crimson’s editorial board members, who are apparently in the minority about Gay’s status. The fact that anyone at Harvard is still left defending this scholastic and administrative failure is a clear sign that identity has fully trumped individual worth and achievement at this university and the other Poison Ivies. It’s not just the honor code that’s become a farce.

[Horace]

I wonder how much truth there is to Obama stepping up to support her, and I wonder how much clout he has.

I would google it, but I don't really want to google "obama gay".

[George K]

@Horace said in The Curious Case of Claudine Gay:

I wonder how much truth there is to Obama stepping up to support her, and I wonder how much clout he has.

I would google it, but I don't really want to google "obama gay".

And here, right here, is our fist first candidate for Post Of The Year: 2024 Edition.

[Horace]

@George-K said in The Curious Case of Claudine Gay:

@Horace said in The Curious Case of Claudine Gay:

I wonder how much truth there is to Obama stepping up to support her, and I wonder how much clout he has.

I would google it, but I don't really want to google "obama gay".

And here, right here, is our fist first candidate for Post Of The Year: 2024 Edition.

Thanks George. If I win, it’ll help me feel safe. At least until Claudine Gay is in prison.

[Mik]

@xenon said in The Curious Case of Claudine Gay:

What I imagine her resignation will look like:

In all the decisions I have made in my public life, I have always tried to do what was best for the NationHarvard. Throughout the long and difficult period of WatergateHamasgate, I have felt it was my duty to persevere, to make every possible effort to complete the term of office to which you electedhired me.

In the past few days, however, it has become evident to me that I no longer have a strong enough political base in the CongressHarvard Corporation to justify continuing that effort. As long as there was such a base, I felt strongly that it was necessary to see the constitutionaleducational process through to its conclusion, that to do otherwise would be unfaithful to the spirit of that deliberately difficult process and a dangerously destabilizing precedent for the future.

But with the disappearance of that base, I now believe that the constitutionaleducational purpose has been served, and there is no longer a need for the process to be prolonged.

Splendid. "I am not a crook plagiarizer".

[Axtremus]

@Jolly said in The Curious Case of Claudine Gay:

Tax the endowment?

Ms. Gay got @Jolly to consider a wealth tax!
It’s a miracle!

[jon-nyc]

Actually the proposals floating around, to which I imagine Jolly is referring, are to tax their investment income at rates resembling what you and I might pay.

Right now Harvard pays 1.4% on their endowment income, IIRC.

[Jolly]

Yep.

[George K]

Well, bye...

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2024/1/3/claudine-gay-resign-harvard/

Harvard President Claudine Gay will resign Tuesday afternoon, bringing an end to the shortest presidency in the University's history, according to a person with knowledge of the decision.

University Provost Alan M. Garber '76 will serve as Harvard's interim president during a search for Gay's permanent successor, the Harvard Corporation — the University's highest governing body — announced in an email on Tuesday.

Harvard spokesperson Jonathan L. Swain declined to comment on Gay's decision to step down.

Gay’s resignation — just six months and two days into the presidency — comes amid growing allegations of plagiarism and lasting doubts over her ability to respond to antisemitism on campus after her disastrous congressional testimony Dec. 5.

Gay weathered scandal after scandal over her brief tenure, facing national backlash for her administration’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and allegations of plagiarism in her scholarly work.

Gay is expected to announced her decision to step down to Harvard affiliates in an email later today. The Corporation is also expected to make a statement about the decision.

The announcement comes three weeks after the Corporation announced unanimous support for Gay after “extensive deliberations” following the congressional hearing.

[Horace]

Odds of another woman of color as her successor? Or maybe a white female this time.

[LuFins Dad]

They forced out that poor black Gay woman…

[Copper]

They should pick someone who doesn't have a gender.

And maybe handicapped.

And morbidly obese.

[Copper]

She'll get a nice package, it will probably include plenty of cnn air time.

[Rainman]

Could someone help me find the post where I bet a quarter that she'd be gone within a month?

[George K]

Of course...

"Amidst all of this, it has been distressing to have doubt cast on my commitments to confronting hate and to upholding scholarly rigor — two bedrock values that are fundamental to who I am — and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus."

[George K]

[George K]

CNN "analyst" unclear on the concept of what "plagiarism" means.

[kluurs]

“The older I get the more I admire and crave competence, just simple competence, in any field from adultery to zoology.”
― H.L. Mencken

[George K]

[Copper]

Beautiful