Harvard President Claudine Gay has resigned, making her have the shortest tenure in Harvard's history

Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard University, has stepped down amid controversy surrounding her handling of questions about antisemitism at US colleges and accusations of plagiarism in her academic work.

In her resignation letter, Gay stated that she would be returning to her faculty position and emphasized her commitment to scholarly pursuits and teaching. She expressed her dedication to working with the Harvard community to build a deserving academic environment.

Gay's resignation marks one of the shortest tenures in Harvard's history, occurring just six months into her presidency. As the first Black person and second woman appointed to lead the prestigious institution, Gay faced challenges and scrutiny during her brief term.

On December 5, Gay, along with presidents of MIT and the University of Pennsylvania, testified before Congress regarding their campuses' handling of antisemitism accusations amid the Israel-Gaza conflict. Subsequent to their legalistic responses, over 70 US lawmakers signed a letter calling for their removal. The president of the University of Pennsylvania resigned on December 9, and Gay later apologized for her responses.

Criticism against Gay was largely led by conservative activists opposing diversity and inclusion initiatives, alleging that her appointment was based on her race rather than her academic achievements. New plagiarism allegations surfaced in a conservative online journal that has been critical of Gay. Despite initial defenses, Gay added additional quotes and citations to the articles.

In her resignation letter, Gay acknowledged the distress caused by doubts about her commitment to combating hate and maintaining scholarly rigor. She also mentioned the personal attacks and threats fueled by racial animus. Despite the plagiarism accusations, Gay received a vote of confidence from Harvard Corporation, the university's governing board. She retained support from colleagues, with hundreds of professors signing a petition opposing calls for her resignation, and advocates who viewed the attacks on her presidency as a threat to free speech.