Harvard University President Claudine Gay is under increasing scrutiny as a CNN analysis reveals additional instances of plagiarism in her academic history.
While Gay has recently submitted corrections for two academic papers from her tenure as a professional academic, the CNN examination points to clearer examples of plagiarism during her time as a student at Harvard in the 1990s.
The allegations include instances in her 1993 essay and 1997 dissertation, where she reportedly copied language without proper attribution.
According to Harvard's plagiarism policy, failure to credit sources adequately can lead to disciplinary action.
The Harvard Corporation, the university's governing body, conducted an independent review at Gay's request and found “a few instances of missing citations” but concluded there was “no violation of Harvard's standards for research misconduct.”
However, it remains unclear if this review covered Gay's 1997 dissertation.
The controversy comes amid broader criticism of Gay following her congressional testimony on antisemitism, where she faced backlash for not explicitly addressing calls for genocide of Jewish people on Harvard's campus as bullying and harassment. Gay later apologized for her comments.
While Harvard has not commented on the plagiarism allegations in her earlier academic work, Gay stated, “I stand by the integrity of my scholarship.” Plagiarism experts have varying opinions on the severity of the offences, emphasizing the need for nuanced considerations.
The calls for Gay's resignation have intensified, with critics citing a “double standard” in allowing her to lead Harvard despite the plagiarism allegations.
The university's swift review has raised questions about the thoroughness of the examination, with independent reviews typically taking longer.
The controversy surrounding Gay adds complexity to her leadership at Harvard, with critics questioning her ability to maintain credibility in her role.
The situation remains politically charged, highlighting the challenges associated with addressing plagiarism in academia.
