In a stunning turn of events, Claudine Gay, the now-former President of Harvard University, was the subject of a bold and symbolic prank by activists, celebrating her resignation. Marking the end of her controversial and brief tenure at Harvard, a “moving day” spectacle was orchestrated right outside her campus residence. This creative demonstration included U-Haul trucks and a digital mobile billboard boldly declaring, “It’s moving day Claudine Gay!” The prank, masterminded by Accuracy in Media activists, followed their vocal demands for her resignation.
It's moving day for Claudine Gay.
We had to come back to campus one last time to say farewell to @Harvard's leading antisemite. We even brought her a moving truck! pic.twitter.com/MlHFuIPNWB
— Accuracy In Media (@AccuracyInMedia) January 3, 2024
Gay’s resignation marked a historic low in Harvard’s storied history, making her the shortest-serving president in the university’s 388 years. The backdrop of her resignation was rife with controversy, primarily stemming from serious accusations of plagiarism in her Ph.D. thesis and other academic works. Initially dismissing these claims, Gay eventually succumbed to the growing pressure as more allegations surfaced, leading to her decision to step down.
Her leadership, once backed by the Harvard Corporation, came under intense scrutiny. This was particularly evident during her testimony at a congressional hearing on antisemitism. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) notably grilled Gay over Harvard’s handling of anti-Semitic incidents on campus. The hearing scrutinized the university’s response to the actions of over 30 student organizations, including Amnesty International’s affiliate, which controversially blamed Israel for Hamas’ actions. While Gay reiterated Harvard’s commitment to free speech, she notably refrained from commenting on specific disciplinary cases.
