Harvard Staff Express Limited Willingness to Address Presidents Plagiarism Charges: NY Times – Fox News

Last Updated on December 22, 2023 by Robert C. Hoopes

Harvard President Accused of Plagiarism, Faces Scrutiny Over Inconsistent Standards

In a recent internal review at Harvard University, two additional instances of plagiarism by President Claudine Gay have come to light, causing concern among faculty members and raising questions about the university’s handling of the matter. The allegations pertain to “duplicative language without appropriate attribution” in two articles published by Gay in 2001 and 2017.

Upon discovering the instances of plagiarism, Gay promptly submitted corrections to the concerned articles and requested four corrections to be made in two other pieces. According to The New York Times, while some Harvard faculty members are reluctant to discuss the allegations openly, a few have expressed worry about the discrepancies in punishment between students and faculty for similar infractions.

Theda Skocpol, a professor of government at Harvard, described the charges against Gay as “troubling” and criticized the unequal application of Harvard’s Honor Code. Skocpol brought attention to the fact that students are often penalized severely for plagiarism, whereas faculty members seem to escape significant consequences.

In response to the mounting pressure, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx has written a letter to Harvard, demanding further information about the university’s handling of these allegations and the perceived unequal application of Harvard’s Honor Code.

The Harvard Corporation, the university’s highest governing body, released a statement expressing its support for Gay’s leadership despite the allegations of plagiarism. The statement mentioned that Gay’s actions did not violate the school’s standards, but acknowledged that some instances of “inadequate citation” were found.

Fox News Digital reached out to Harvard for comment on the matter but has yet to receive a response. As the story unfolds, many are eagerly awaiting Harvard’s official stance on the allegations and its plan for addressing the concerns raised by faculty members and House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx.

As the prestigious institution known for its rigorous academic standards faces criticism for inconsistencies in handling plagiarism allegations, students and faculty alike are watching closely to see if Harvard can effectively address the issue while upholding its reputation.