Bill Ackman leads reaction to Claudine Gay’s resignation as he celebrates shortest tenure in Harvard history and asks if MIT president Sally Kornbluth is next

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman, who has actively sought the ouster of Harvard President Claudine Gay, cheered her resignation Tuesday afternoon.

Ackman, a Harvard graduate and donor, has vociferously campaigned for the resignation of Gay, as well as MIT presidents Sally Kornblut and Upenn Elizabeth Magill after she criticized anti-Semitism on the campuses of Congress during a congressional hearing last month. their universities had not unequivocally condemned.

Gay resigned after last month's disastrous congressional hearing and mounting allegations of plagiarism in her academic work.

Ackman wrote 'Et tu Sally?' on X after the news.

The comment appears to refer to MIT President Sally Kornblut, the only one of the three who has not resigned.

U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) during the tense House Education and The Workforce Committee hearing in December

Harvard President Claudine Gay during last month's congressional hearing

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called Gay's resignation “just the beginning” of “the biggest scandal of any college or university in history.”

Stefanik, who chaired the committee hearing on anti-Semitism on college campuses, led calls for the resignations of Gay, MIT President Sally Kornblut, and Upenn, Elizabeth Magill.

“Harvard knows that this long-awaited forced resignation of its anti-Semitic plagiarist president is just the beginning of what will be the greatest scandal of any college or university in history,” the Republican wrote in response to Gay's resignation.

“The resignation of the Harvard Corporation board members must come soon,” she continued.

“They are complicit in covering up this massive scandal with incredible arrogance and cavalier attitudes that have irreparably damaged Harvard's academic integrity and moral leadership.”

In an email announcing her resignation to colleagues, Gay wrote that she resigned after “consultations” with the school board, which was under pressure to replace her after she defended her testimony in Congress about anti-Semitism on campus.

Gay, the school's first Black president, was appointed to the post in July 2023.

In the email, she did not admit where she had gone wrong — without mentioning her refusal to condemn anti-Semitism as harassment at a December 5 Congressional hearing or the mounting accusations of plagiarism against her — but said she had been the victim of racist threats.

Ackman's comment appears to refer to MIT President Sally Kornblut, the only one of the three who has not resigned

The hearing also featured much-criticized testimony from MIT President Sally Kornbluth (left) and University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill (right).

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik called Gay's resignation “just the beginning” of “the biggest scandal of any college or university in history”

She said it had been “frightening” to find herself the target of threats, and “disturbing” to have her character called into question.

Gay complained: “It was disturbing to have my commitments to fight hate and uphold scientific rigor – two fundamental values ​​that are fundamental to who I am – questioned and frightening to be subjected to personal attacks and threats that are fueled by racial animosity. '

She said she resigned with a heavy heart, but confirmed she would retain some role at the school.

“I believe we have everything we need to heal from this period of tension and division and emerge stronger.

“I had hoped with all my heart to lead us on that journey, working with all of you.

“As I return to the faculty, and to the science and education that are the lifeblood of what we do, I pledge to continue working with you to build the community we all deserve,” she said.

The Harvard Corporation said it accepted her resignation “with sadness.”

Gay will be replaced by Alan M. Garber, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, who sat behind her during the infamous December 5 hearing and nodded as she delivered her remarks.

Her six-month term as president is the shortest in the school's history.