Florida Republicans praise Harvard president resignation

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Several Florida lawmakers applauded the resignation of Harvard President Claudine Gay amidst a rocky six-month tenure that included controversial statements and accusations of plagiarism.

“Good, but not enough. @Harvard still plans to keep her on faculty. That’s not okay,” Republican Sen. Rick Scott said. “People who embrace Hamas terrorism and refuse to condemn anti-Semitism have NO PLACE at American universities, and she should be fired.”

In December, Gay’s downfall took center stage after addressing growing acts of antisemitism on college campuses. Questioned by Congress, particularly Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., Gay responded that the calling for the genocide of Jewish people “depended on the context.”

Along with the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and MIT, who shared similar explanations, the comment received swift backlash across the political spectrum and by the American public.

Days later, UPENN President Liz Magill resigned over the fallout.

“Harvard President Claudine Gay is resigning today,” Rep. Vern Buchanan said. “While she should have been fired for her disgusting failure to combat anti-Semitism and condemn calls for ‘genocide of Jews,’ this is the right decision.”

Following their testimony, UPENN President Liz Magill resigned over the fallout. MIT President Sally Kornbluth was the other speaker to the panel.

“TWO down, one to go,” Buchanan said.

Already being probed for plagiarism through Harvard, Gay’s academic precision came under more scrutiny over her 1997 dissertation, which was not previously uncovered.

“President Gay will update her dissertation correcting these instances of inadequate citation,” the school said.  

“Claudine Gay should have been fired weeks ago. She should not be allowed to continue to teaching students as a serial plagiarist,” Rep. Mike Waltz said. “Yet another horrible example to our youth. Predictably, she painted herself as a victim.”

In her resignation letter, Gay avoided addressing either issue leading to her removal. She did, however, state attacks against her have been fueled by “racial animus.”

“She finally had to pay the responsibility for her actions,” Rep. Byron Donalds said.

At six months and two days, Gay’s tenure was the shortest of any president in Harvard’s near 400-year history. The university is still expected to retain Gay as a faculty member, holding a $900,000 annual salary.