Over antisemitism evidence to Congressional committee, Harvard president resigns

RELIGIONS NEWS AGENCY (REDNA) – The president of Harvard University, Claudine Gay, has resigned after plagiarism claims and criticism over her testimony at a congressional hearing where she was unable to confirm that calling for the genocide of Jews would violate Harvard’s policy.

She had appeared before a House Committee to answer questions after universities were accused of failing to protest Jewish students amid rising antisemitism following the outbreak of war in Israel / Gaza.

She failed to give an unequivocal answer to the question on genocide.

Claudine Gay said a violation of policy would depend on the context.

Her answer was criticised, she apologised, the board backed her, but  she resigned this week. The president of the University of Pennsylvania, Elizabeth Magill, resigned four days after the hearing following similar criticism.

Sally Kornbluth, president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was backed by the MIT board and although letters of complaint have come in from Jewish alumni and students, there has not been sustained pressure on her to resign.