What does the attack on Dr. Gay, Harvard’s first Black, Female President, mean to BIPOC in academia? 005

Recent US house congressional hearings on “Antisemitism on College Campuses” witnessed three university (Harvard, MIT & University of Pennsylvania) Presidents (all women) respond to accusations on the lack of safety for Jewish Students on campus and hear politician opinions on Pro-Palestinian voices being akin to calls for genocide. Republican, Elise Steffinik, received the greatest amount of media attention for her less than nuanced approach, making statements and accusations, rather than posing questions to the administrators. Proceeding the hearings, Steffinik stated, “one down, two to go”, when the U of Penn president stepped down. Although Harvard’s Dr. Gay received initial support from faculty, the first Black President of Harvard was accused of plagiarism and ultimately stepped down from her position as well. Join us as we discuss what this recent form of McCarthyism means for BIPOC in Higher Education.