Former President Barack Obama reportedly intervened on behalf of Harvard University President Claudine Gay to prevent her removal from her post following her testimony before Congress in early December on campus antisemitism.
Obama, an alumnus of the university, is said to have lobbied for Gay after her responses during the testimony led to increased calls for her resignation. According to a source familiar with the situation, Obama aimed to keep Gay safe from being removed.
Reports from insiders claim that people were asked to close ranks to keep the broader administration stable, including its composition. However, a representative for Obama declined to comment when contacted by the Washington Examiner on the matter.
Gay’s testimony before the Committee on Education and the Workforce did not satisfy concerns of donors and alumni. When asked by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) if “calling for the genocide of Jews” violated the school’s rules on bullying and harassment, Gay responded that “It can be, depending on the context.” Many individuals viewed Gay’s response as insufficient, leading to a further energized group of lawmakers and donors threatening to cancel their contributions.
Gay’s responses before Congress have led to an ongoing controversy on campus anti-semitism and the issue of how universities should handle such incidents. The situation has caused tension to mount, particularly for those at Harvard University, leading to much speculation in the media about how the administration aims to address these concerns going forward.
Despite the negative feedback from her testimony, Gay reportedly has substantial support within the school’s administration and is recognized as having initiated several new measures to combat anti-Semitism on campus. The university’s statement regarding its efforts to address anti-Semitism, however, did not mention Gay directly. Many feel that the situation highlights the challenges many administrators face when navigating issues around freedom of speech, academic freedom, and affirmative action.
