Magill, Elizabeth

Harvard President’s Resignation: The Word That Undid Claudine Gay

The fate of Harvard’s president is the latest evidence of a deep crisis in American academia.

Claudine Gay faced backlash over the university’s response to antisemitism on campus, which led to increased scrutiny of her academic record.

Universities are under tremendous pressure to stamp out antisemitism, but some say that is causing fear and curbing free expression.

Members of the State House of Representatives said the university needed to take a stronger stand against antisemitism.

Before the Israel-Hamas war, universities were already engulfed in debates over what kinds of speech are acceptable.