Member News

Reaction to the Harvard Corporation’s endorsement of Claudine Gay to remain as president and the aftermath of the University of Pennsylvania’s decision to remove President Liz Magill remain as president continue to drive the news cycle.
 
Below are a sample of today’s news coverage: 
 
How Bad Are the Plagiarism Allegations Against the Harvard President? It Depends on Whom You Ask.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (December 13, 2023)
 
Harvard Board Backs Embattled President
Inside Higher Ed (December 13, 2023)
 
Antisemitism and Free Speech Collide on Campuses (Multimedia)
The New York Times (December 13, 2023)
 
Why Harvard and Penn Took Different Paths With Their Presidents
The Wall Street Journal (December 13, 2023)
 
Top Oversight Board, Former Presidents Back Harvard University Leader
The Boston Globe (December 13, 2023)
 
‘Moral Failure’: Harvard Is Slammed After Board Backs President Claudine Gay Following Congressional Testimony on Antisemitism
Boston Herald (December 13, 2023)
 
Bill Ackman’s Ruthless Quest to Oust College Presidents
The Wall Street Journal (December 13, 2023)
 
Bill Ackman’s Campaign Against Harvard Followed Years of Resentment
The New York Times (December 12, 2023)
 
Medical School Dean Is Chosen to Lead Penn as Interim President
The New York Times (December 12, 2023)
 
Penn Changes Leaders, Now Comes the Hard Part
The Wall Street Journal (December 13, 2023)
 
To Testify or Not to Testify in Congress? Your Job Could Hang in the Balance
The New York Times (December 12, 2023)
 
 
America Gets a Harvard Education – Editorial
The Wall Street Journal (December 13, 2023)
 
Campus Speech Codes Should Be Abolished - Commentary
The New York Times (December 13, 2023)
 
Liz Magill Is Out at Penn. It’s a Start - Commentary
The Wall Street Journal (December 13, 2023)
 
Harvard Needs Claudine Gay as President More Than She Needs Harvard - Commentary
The Boston Globe (December 13, 2023)
 
Harvard President Botched Her Testimony on Antisemitism. Firing Her Would've Made It Worse. – Commentary
USA Today (December 13, 2023)
 
Why Elite Schools Are Anti-Israel Hotspots - Commentary
Boston Herald (December 13, 2023)
 
Why University Presidents Find It Hard to Punish Advocating Genocide — College Free Speech Codes Are Both More and Less Protective Than the First Amendment - Commentary
The Conversation.com (December 13, 2023)
 
Why the Presidents Could Not Answer Yes or No - Commentary
The Chronicle of Higher Education (December 13, 2023)
 

Mari Flynn, library director and an adjunct humanities instructor at Keystone College (PA), writes:  I am one of the thousands of people working at a small private college, an endangered institution. I have done it for over 20 years now, and I love it. Our campus is small enough that everyone not only knows your name but also “your dreams,” as a much-loved president of our college once stated. It’s corny, but true. He sent birthday cards to all employees and college baby swag to all newborns. It is this very familiarity and camaraderie that makes the small college experience special for those who attend and work there. Still, sometimes life on a small campus can be hard.

 

Through a statement released early this morning, the Harvard Corporation board offered their full support of President Claudine Gay.
 
In part, the statement reads:  “Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing.”
 
The statement came following a two-day meeting of the corporation.  More than 700 faculty members signed a letter endorsing Gay and the Harvard Alumni Association Executive Committee sent a letter supporting  Gay.  Gay had been under heavy criticism since a hearing on antisemitism held last week by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
 
Below is a sampling of the latest media coverage:
 
Harvard Board Backs President, Despite Mounting Woes
Inside Higher Ed (December 12, 2023)
 
Harvard President to Remain After Anger Over Testimony on Antisemitism
The Washington Post (December 12, 2023)
 
Harvard President to Remain Despite Calls for Her Dismissal
The Wall Street Journal (December 12, 2023)
 
Harvard’s Board Says President Will Stay, Despite Calls for Her Ouster
The New York Times (December 12, 2023)
 
Key Oversight Board Backs Harvard University Leader:  ‘We Unanimously Stand in Support of President Gay’
The Boston Globe (December 12, 2023)
 
Harvard President Claudine Gay to Remain, University Leaders Affirm Support
USA Today (December 12, 2023)
 
Harvard Board Keeps President as Leader of Ivy League School Following Antisemitism Backlash
Associated Press (December 12, 2023)
 
A Timeline of How the Israel-Hamas War Has Roiled College Campuses
The New York Times (December 12, 2023)
 
What to Know About Claudine Gay, Harvard’s Embattled President
The New York Times (December 11, 2023)
 
A Professor Started His Class at a Pro-Palestinian Demonstration. It Ended With Him in a Police Car.
The Chronicle of Higher Education (December 11, 2023)
 
Harvard President’s Future Uncertain as Board Convenes
The New York Times (December 11, 2023)
 
Dueling Letters, ‘Academic Integrity’ Claims Add to Furor Over Harvard President Claudine Gay as Key Board Meets
The Boston Globe (December 11, 2023)
 
Congressman Jamie Raskin Slams Fellow Harvard Alum Elise Stefanik Over Antisemitism Questioning
The Boston Globe (December 11, 2023)
 
Inside the Chaotic Struggle for Power at Penn
The New York Times (December 11, 2023)
 
Yale Condemns Hanging of Palestinian Flag on Menorah During Protest
The New York Times (December 11, 2023)
 
Why Defenders of Harvard’s President Are Focused on Academic Freedom
The New York Times (December 11, 2023)
 
Hundreds of Harvard Faculty Back the President Amid Calls for Her Resignation
The Chronicle of Higher Education (December 11, 2023)
 
With Universities Under Pressure Over Antisemitism, NY Governor Warns of Legal Action If Discrimination Occurs
CNN.com (December 11, 2023)
 
 
 
Higher Education’s Slide From ‘Veritas’ to ‘My Truth’ – Commentary
The Wall Street Journal (December 12, 2023)
 
Almost a Week at Harvard for $9,900 - Commentary
The Wall Street Journal (December 11, 2023)
 
Rescuing Universities From Themselves: A Five-Point Plan - Commentary
The Boston Globe (December 11, 2023)
 

New York state lawmakers will unveil legislation on Tuesday that would eliminate enormous property tax breaks for Columbia University and New York University, which have expanded to become among New York City’s top 10 largest private property owners. The bills would require the private universities to start paying full annual property taxes and for that money to be redistributed to the City University of New York, the largest urban public university system in the country.   

University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, on of three Ivy League presidents to testify during a recent House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing on antisemitism on campus, resigned on Saturday following a firestorm of criticism about her testimony on antisemitism on campus.  Magill agreed to remain in her role until an interim president is selected.  Board Chair Scott Bok also resigned.
 
At the same time, the pressure is building on Harvard President Claudine Gay to also resign.  The Harvard Corporation was expected to meet on Monday.  More than 650 members of Harvard University's faculty have signed a letter urging administrators to resist calls to remove Gay.
 
Below is round-up of news and commentary on the developments over the weekend.
 
Penn’s President Resigns After Remarks at Congressional Hearing Prompted a Backlash
The Chronicle of Higher Education (December 11, 2023)
 
Penn President Resigns After Missteps on Antisemitism
Inside Higher Ed (December 11, 2023)
 
Harvard Corporation to Meet as Furor Over President Claudine Gay’s Testimony Enters Seventh Day
The Boston Globe (December 11, 2023)
 
Claudine Gay Testimony Sparks Frustration Among Harvard Students
The Boston Globe (December 11, 2023)
 
Harvard Boards Meet Amid Calls for President Gay’s Resignation Over Antisemitism Hearing Testimony
Boston Herald (December 11, 2023)
 
Harvard Antisemitism Hearing: Why Claudine Gay Still Has a Job After Penn’s Liz Magill Ouster
CNN.com (December 11, 2023)
 
Hundreds of Harvard Faculty Members Urge University Not to Oust Embattled President
NBCNews.com (December 11, 2023)
 
Magill Resigns, Heat Still on Harvard and MIT Presidents
Politico.com (December 11, 2023)
 
Penn Leadership Upheaval Could Have a ‘Chilling Effect’ on College Presidencies and University Operations Nationally
The Philadelphia Inquirer (December 11, 2023)
 
Harvard University President Accused of Plagiarizing Ph.D. Thesis with Material Written by Dr. Carol Swain
The Tennessee Star (December 10, 2023)
 
As Harvard President Faces Pressure to Resign, Some Faculty Show Support
The New York Times (December 10, 2023)
 
As Fury Erupts Over Campus Antisemitism, Conservatives Seize the Moment
The New York Times (December 10, 2023)
                                                                                                                                          
Penn President, Board Chair Resign Amid Backlash to Remarks on Antisemitism
The Washington Post (December 10, 2023)
 
Penn President’s Resignation Stirs Debate About Limits of Free Speech
The Washington Post (December 10, 2023)
 
As University of Penn Leaders Resign, Students Say 'A Lot Still Needs to Change'
USA Today (December 10, 2023)
 
Penn President Liz Magill Resigns After Facing Intense Controversy; Chair of School’s Board of Trustees also Steps Down
The Philadelphia Inquirer (December 9, 2023)
 
Penn’s Leadership Resigns Amid Controversies Over Antisemitism
The New York Times (December 9, 2023)
 
What to Know About Elizabeth Magill, the Penn President Who Resigned
The New York Times (December 9, 2023)
 
Penn President, Board of Trustees Chair Resign After Antisemitism Hearing
NPR.org (December 9, 2023)
 
University of Pennsylvania President Resigns Amid Outrage Over Response to Antisemitism
USA Today (December 9, 2023)
 
 
On Antisemitism, University Presidents Needed Moral Clarity, Not Legal Ambiguity - Editorial
The Boston Globe (December 11, 2023)
 
The Ivy League Mask Falls – Editorial
The Wall Street Journal (December 11, 2023)
 
Trust in Higher Ed Was Low.  It Just Got Lower - Commentary
The Chronicle of Higher Education (December 11, 2023)
 
What the University Presidents Got Right and Wrong About Antisemitic Speech - Commentary
The New York Times (December 10, 2023)
 
The Ivy League Flunks Out - Commentary
The New York Times (December 10, 2023)