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Updated: December 12, 2023, at 1:19 am
The Board of Directors of the Harvard Alumni Association expressed its unanimous support for Harvard President Claudine Gay and asked the University’s administration to publicly support Gay in a letter sent on Monday.
The letter, which was signed by all 13 members of the committee, came as the Harvard Foundation and Board of Regents – the University’s two governing bodies – met on Monday to decide Gay’s destiny at the helm of Harvard.
“We encourage the Fellows of Harvard College and the Board of Trustees of Harvard University to join us in making a strong public commitment of support for our exceptional University President,” said a the book.
The statement came after the Harvard Corporation – the highest governing body of the University – remained silent for more than five days as Gay faced a backlash over his remarks during the assembly of congress about protesting on college campuses.
More than 70 members of Congress issued a letter Friday calling on Gay to resign. The White House also issued a statement reprimanding Gay for his comments during the trial.
Support does not only come from HAA leadership.
The Foundation sent a separate letter Monday — this time signed by more than 1,000 seniors — in support of Gay remaining at the helm of the University.
“In more than thirty years as a professor and administrator, he has made it clear that he is committed to fostering a university environment that does not accept violence or abuse,” the statement said. which the book. “While the current issues are difficult, his commitment to combating anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and racism has not wavered.”
In the HAA letter, the board applauded Gay for apologizing for his remarks at the end of his testimony before Congress on Tuesday, which was live. There were sharp criticisms on campus and among lawmakers in Washington.
“President Gay is the right leader to lead the University through this difficult time,” the letter said. “We believe that President Gay will speak out against the opposition, and other forms of hatred, effectively and courageously.”
The board of trustees will make a decision on Monday to decide whether Gay will remain as Harvard’s president.
—Staff writer Miles J. Herszenhorn can be reached at miles.herszenhorn@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @mherszenhorn or on threads @mileshersz.
—Staff writer Claire Yuan can be reached at claire.yuan@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @claireyuan33.