Staff Reports
House Republicans are criticizing Harvard for what they see as their insufficient response to Claudine Gay's president's plagiarism charges. Virginia Foxx, the chairwoman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, is questioning Penny Pritzker, a senior fellow at Harvard Corporation, about the controversy. In particular, Foxx questions whether the university holds Gay to the same standards as its students, considering that Gay's work has been marked for many instances of plagiarism, including partial citations from her 1997 Ph.D. thesis.
When The Post first approached Harvard on the dubious citations, they were threatened with a defamation lawsuit if they published a piece on the accusations, which heightens the drama in the case. Harvard is determined to quickly brush this problem under the rug.
Republicans probe Harvard President Claudine Gay's plagiarism, ‘shameful’ suppression of NY Post https://t.co/tHfB2GaidA via @nypost
— Elaine Greenwood (@ElaineGreenwo13) December 21, 2023
Elise Stefanik, the chairwoman of the House GOP Conference and a Harvard alumna, is not holding back. She's ready to hold Gay responsible with every tool at her disposal, including the ability to issue subpoenas. Stefanik is trying to draw attention to the issue and is voicing his anger with Harvard's handling of the subject.
There are financial ramifications as well because Harvard's federal money is at risk if they don't follow the requirements for academic integrity set by the New England Commission of Higher Education. By supplying the required data, Foxx hopes to ensure that Harvard is adhering to these criteria.
The controversies concerning Gay go back to her dissertation from 1997; in publications and periodicals, there have been claims of plagiarism since 1993. The increasing quantity of allegations points to a trend, and Harvard's reaction is viewed as a pathetic attempt to restore their standing. There are more claims coming out, suggesting that this is not a one-off occurrence.
Republicans in the House are committed to finding the truth and making Harvard answerable for its deeds. The GOP-Harvard clash is being compared to a heavyweight fight, with no guarantee of victory. This conflict appears to be far from done, as both sides appear to be digging in for a protracted struggle based on the current standoff.
