Harvard University President Claudine Gay will remain in the role despite calls for her to be ousted from the position after her appearance before Congress last week.
"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," said the Harvard Corporation, the highest governing board at the university.
"In this tumultuous and difficult time, we unanimously stand in support of President Gay," the 13-member board added in a statement released Tuesday.
JUST IN - Harvard board "unanimously stand in support" of Claudine Gay. pic.twitter.com/J7R5OdGrpt
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Gay had testified last week alongside University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth at a House of Representatives hearing on antisemitism.
During the hearing, Gay said, "That type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent to me" and "at odds with the values of Harvard."
But when Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., asked: "Can you not say here that it is against the code of conduct at Harvard?" Gay responded: "We embrace a commitment to free expression even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful — it’s when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying, harassment, intimidation."
Gay apologized later for her comments, and Magill resigned for similar comments she had made during the hearing.
"I got caught up in what had become, at that point, an extended, combative exchange about policies and procedures. I failed to convey what is my truth.”
More than 700 Harvard University faculty members submitted a letter earlier this week, asking the Harvard Corporation to allow Gay to stay in the role.
"We, the undersigned faculty, urge you in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds with Harvard's commitment to academic freedom, including calls for the removal of President Claudine Gay," the letter says.
"The critical work of defending a culture of free inquiry in our diverse community cannot proceed if we let its shape be dictated by outside forces," the letter said.
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Amanda Casanova is a writer living in Dallas, Texas. She has covered news for ChristianHeadlines.com since 2014. She has also contributed to The Houston Chronicle, U.S. News and World Report and IBelieve.com. She blogs at The Migraine Runner.
