Lyndee Pinkerton

Former President of Harvard University Claudine Gay — the first Black president in the university’s history — resigned from her position in early January. About a month prior, Gay appeared before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in order to address on-campus antisemitism alongside other notable university presidents. Gay’s stance on free speech and antisemitism quickly drew criticism, eventually prompting further scrutiny.
Subsequent to Gay’s testimony on Harvard’s handling of antisemitism in the wake of the war in Gaza, allegations of plagiarism emerged and caught the attention of academics, politicians and Harvard donors. These accusations of plagiarism have greatly divided the academic world, with members of Trinity’s own community taking different stances on the issue.
Ellis Jacoby, senior political science and German double-major and president of the Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at Trinity, maintained that Gay plagiarized numerous articles. Jacoby said he didn’t understand how the instances of plagiarism had not been found earlier.
“I think someone of that high standing, any professor, let alone a university president, let alone that of Harvard, should be held to the same standards that they hold their own students to,” Jacoby said.
On the other hand, Alexis Ibarra, sophomore political science major and president of Trinity Progressives, believed that there was more to the allegations. He emphasized that Gay responded correctly during the House committee hearing, given the context of freedom of expression. Ibarra acknowledged that freedom of expression is assured at every campus, and antisemitism should not be included.
“The way that Republican/conservatives went after her, basically digging up her past as a student at Harvard was not OK either, just to find a way to get rid of her, and to basically defame Harvard from trying to look forward in the progressive movement of hiring diversity and inclusive personnel and administration,” Ibarra said.
Regarding diversity, equity and inclusion, Ibarra encouraged students to participate in democracy by voicing their opinions. He said that going to the Texas Capital and participating in peaceful protests will influence positive change.
Ibarra said that conservatives do not want to accept diversity and inclusivity in the progressive movement of U.S. universities.
“They want to keep it backlogged and have someone of a white race, or someone that is not a minority race, in power,” Ibarra said. “We can get rid of the president of the most powerful universities, what do you think we can do to one of the smaller universities?”
On the other hand, Jacoby thinks that Gay’s plagiarizing provides a “horrible example” for students. He mentioned that ChatGPT and other technologies blur the academic honesty of university students.