In the United States, the president of Harvard resigns … Claudine Gay has been in an ejector seat since her confirmation hearing in Congress a few weeks ago on the fight against anti-Semitism on campus, becoming the second president of Harvard University to resign in connection with the War in Gaza.
Published on: 02/01/2024 – 11:14 p.m
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With our correspondent in Washington, Loubna Anaki
It will have come less than a month after his very controversial appearance before a congressional committee.
On December 5, Claudine Gay was asked the following question: “Does a call for genocide against the Jews constitute a violation of university regulations?” and replied: “That depends on the context.” His answer, from a purely legal point of view, was nothing less clumsy.
In light of the controversy, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, who was also interviewed and also gave a similar response, said: had resigned.
Claudine Gay apologized and received the support of the Harvard Council. But donors to the renowned university and many conservative politicians continued to call for his departure.
There were also accusations of plagiarism in connection with his scientific work, which were spread by a right-wing site.
“It is in the best interest of Harvard that I resign,” Claudine Gay wrote in her resignation letter yesterday.
Her presidency, the first by a black woman, was the shortest in the university's history: just under six months.
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