Harvard’s President is a perfect fit

If the authors from whom you plagiarize ⁤say ‌it’s ok, well, then, it’s ok!

If the authors​ from whom⁤ you plagiarize‌ say it’s ok, well, then, ‌it’s ok!

Harvard Corporation’s Support for President Claudine Gay

That was the upshot⁤ of the Harvard Corporation’s message to “members of ​the Harvard⁢ Community” on Tuesday ⁣announcing their “full support” for university ⁣president⁣ and serial plagiarist ⁣Claudine‌ Gay. ‍Their note obliquely referred⁣ to “a ​few instances of inadequate citation” ⁢and to Gay’s⁣ “proactive” request to have them corrected.

In other words: ‌reporters have been asking questions⁢ about Gay’s plagiarism for months, and⁣ she and ⁢her defenders on the Harvard Corporation – which includes the former president of ‌Princeton University,‌ Shirley Tilghman, and the former president of ​Amherst College, Biddy Martin –⁢ helped her batten down the hatches. ⁢Late in the day, five former Harvard presidents joined ‌the chorus, too.

The Harvard Crimson,‍ which limply and unenthusiastically substantiated reports of ‍Gay’s decades-long record of plagiarism, talked to scholars like Lawrence Bobo—one of the ‌many authors from ⁤whom Gay cribbed, ⁣er, inadequately cited—who told ​the paper he⁢ was “unconcerned” that Gay quoted him and his colleague, Gary King, without ​proper attribution.

Sure, Gay violated the standards to which Harvard holds ​its own ⁣students. Sure, ⁣she did the same and worse ​to dozens of ⁣other scholars. But ⁤Harvard’s 30th president isn’t a plagiarist. And besides, isn’t imitation the ‌highest form ‍of ‌flattery?‍ Take notes, Harvard ‌students. And Princeton students. And Amherst students.

What the Crimson didn’t mention is that Bobo, ⁣the​ dean of social sciences at Harvard, was appointed to his role five years ⁣earlier by Gay, when⁣ she was dean of Harvard’s faculty of⁢ arts and sciences. She’s not⁢ just his boss, she’s his patron. Gay’s dissertation advisor,⁢ Gary‌ King, and her former​ classmate, Stephen ​Voss, also defended the Ivy League apparatchik who absconded with their work.

What ‍none of them, least of all ⁣the members of the Harvard Corporation, want‌ to say out loud, is that Gay wasn’t tapped for her scholarship, and they aren’t about⁢ to hold her​ to the standards of a serious scholar. Obviously.

No, Gay was chosen for⁤ a‌ different set of credentials – ‍her race, gender, ​political views, and religious devotion to DEI – and she is delivering ​on her promise to rededicate the university to identity politics.

To ​that end, she engineered the defenestration of Roland Fryer, allegedly on Title IX charges,‍ after ​the star black economist ruffled feathers by ‍debunking myths of rampant police violence. She helped‌ strip Ronald Sullivan, a black Harvard Law professor, of an administrative post because he served ‌on Harvey‍ Weinstein’s defense team. She even dismissed allegations of research fraud against⁤ Ryan Enos,⁤ a Harvard government professor, who⁤ just so happened to ⁤find that ‍Republicans are racist—a recurring theme in Gay’s own (well, not really) work.

In her disgraceful testimony before Congress, in which Gay​ was asked ⁤whether Israel has the ⁢right to exist as a ​Jewish state and responded, “I believe ⁣Israel has the right to exist” – not necessarily as a Jewish state – she was doing the job for‌ which she ‍was⁣ hired, in the way⁣ she⁣ was hired to do it. And the Harvard Corporation, in ⁣reaping ⁢the media whirlwind ‌and tossing standards aside (again) to save their gal,⁣ is getting exactly what they asked for.

How‍ does Harvard’s justification for supporting President Gay, ⁤based on her ⁣background and position,⁣ affect the credibility and reputation of the institution as ‌a whole

T Harvard, is ‌also a member of the Harvard Corporation, the same body that expressed their⁣ support for President Claudine Gay. It seems that those in positions of power‍ within the university are ⁣willing‍ to overlook Gay’s plagiarism, even⁤ when​ it ​directly affects their own work.

This‍ raises an important question: if the authors from ​whom‌ you plagiarize say it’s okay, does that ⁣make it okay? According to‌ Harvard’s ‍response, it seems that they believe it does. They have chosen to stand​ by ‍Gay,​ despite the evidence of her misconduct.

Plagiarism is a ​serious offense in academia and is ‌considered ⁤a breach of academic integrity.⁤ It⁣ undermines the foundation of knowledge and scholarship upon which universities‌ are built. ‍Students are often held to strict standards when it comes ⁢to referencing‍ and citing ​sources, and the consequences for plagiarism can be⁤ severe.

It is perplexing‌ that ⁢Harvard, a university⁢ that places such a strong emphasis on academic integrity, would choose to support ⁣a president⁤ who has been ⁣implicated in ‍multiple instances of plagiarism. This sends a contradictory ⁢message to the students ⁢and‌ faculty ⁤of⁤ the institution.

Perhaps ⁢Harvard’s decision is influenced ⁢by a desire to ‍protect ⁤its reputation. Gay is⁤ not only⁤ the president of the university​ but also ⁣the first woman​ and ⁣first African-American to hold the position. Her appointment was seen as a positive step towards‌ diversity and inclusivity in academia. Admitting fault‍ and taking action against her for plagiarism could be seen as a​ setback for the university’s progress in these areas.

However,⁣ this rationale is flawed. Upholding the values of honesty and integrity should ​be paramount, regardless of ‍the⁤ individual’s background or position.‍ Allowing plagiarism to go unchecked sets a dangerous⁢ precedent and undermines⁣ the credibility of the institution as a whole.

It is also​ worth considering the impact that ⁤this decision has on the broader academic community. By excusing Gay’s plagiarism, Harvard sends a message to other scholars and researchers that⁤ the rules ​of academic integrity can be selectively applied. This undermines ⁣the trust ‌and cooperation that is essential for the advancement of ‌knowledge.

In conclusion, if ‍the authors from whom you plagiarize say⁢ it’s okay, it ⁤should not automatically⁣ make it okay. Plagiarism is a serious offense that undermines ‌the principles of academic integrity and ⁣scholarly collaboration. Harvard’s decision‌ to support President Claudine Gay, despite evidence of her​ plagiarism, raises concerns about⁢ the institution’s commitment to ​these principles. It⁣ is important for ⁣universities to uphold‍ the highest standards of academic integrity and to hold all members ⁤of their community accountable for their actions.