Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who actively campaigned for the ouster of Harvard President Claudine Gay, welcomed her resignation on Tuesday afternoon.
Ackman, a Harvard graduate and donor, vocally advocated for the resignation of Gay, as well as MIT President Sally Kornblut and Upenn President Elizabeth Magill, after their denunciations of anti-Semitism on their college campuses at a congressional hearing last month had clearly condemned.
Gay resigned after last month's disastrous congressional hearing and mounting allegations of plagiarism in her academic work.
Ackman wrote “Et tu Sally?” on X following the news.
The comment appears to refer to MIT President Sally Kornblut, who is the only one of the three who has not resigned.
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who actively campaigned for the ouster of Harvard President Claudine Gay, welcomed her resignation on Tuesday afternoon
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) during the tense House Education and Workforce Committee hearing in December
Harvard President Claudine Gay at last month's congressional hearing
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called Gay's resignation “just the beginning” of the “biggest scandal of any college or university in history.”
Stefanik, who chaired the committee's hearing on anti-Semitism on college campuses, led calls for his resignation from Gay, MIT President Sally Kornblut and Upenn's Elizabeth Magill.
“Harvard knows that this long-overdue forced resignation of the anti-Semitic plagiarism president is just the beginning of the greatest scandal of any college or university in history,” the Republican wrote in response to Gay’s resignation.
“The resignation of Harvard Corporation board members must be imminent,” she continued.
“With incredible arrogance and cavalier attitude, they have participated in the cover-up of this massive scandal that has irreparably damaged Harvard’s academic integrity and moral leadership.”
In an email announcing her resignation to colleagues, Gay wrote that she resigned after a “consultation” with school administrators, who were under pressure to replace her following her testimony before Congress about anti-Semitism defended the campus.
Gay, the school's first Black president, was appointed to the position in July 2023.
In the email, she did not admit where she had made a mistake – she did not mention her refusal to condemn anti-Semitism as harassment at a congressional hearing on December 5, nor the mounting allegations of plagiarism against her – but said she was a victim racist threats.
Ackman's comment appears to refer to MIT President Sally Kornblut, who was the only one of the three who did not resign
The hearing also featured widely criticized statements from MIT President Sally Kornbluth (left) and University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill (right).
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called Gay's resignation “just the beginning” of the “biggest scandal of any college or university in history.”
She said it was “scary” to see the target of threats and “disturbing” to have her character questioned.
Gay complained: “It was distressing to have doubts raised about my commitment to combating hate and maintaining scientific rigor – two core values that are fundamental to me – and it was frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats , which were fueled by racial hostility.”'
She said she resigned with a “heavy heart” but confirmed she would retain some role at the school.
“I believe we have everything within us that we need to heal and emerge stronger from this time of tension and division.”
“I had hoped with all my heart to be able to join us on this journey with all of you.”
“As I return to the faculty now and return to the scholarship and teaching that are the lifeblood of our work, I promise to continue working with you to build the community we all deserve,” she said.
The Harvard Corporation said it accepted her resignation “with sadness.”
Gay will be replaced by Alan M. Garber, provost and chief academic officer, who sat behind her at the infamous Dec. 5 hearing and nodded as she delivered her remarks.
Her six-month term as president is the shortest in the school's history.