Harvard University President Claudine Gay Resigns

Harvard University President Claudine Gay announced Tuesday that she will resign after just six months as president amid intense controversy at the university.

“It is with heavy hearts, and with deep love for Harvard University, that I write to announce my resignation as president,” Gay said in a letter to the Harvard community. Ta. “After consulting with members of the organization, I believe that my resignation is in the best interest of Harvard University and will allow our community to respond to this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution, not the individual. That has become clear.”

Gay did not say when she would formally resign, but said the decision was “indescribably difficult.”

Gay’s resignation comes amid extreme unrest at one of America’s most prestigious universities, making Harvard the first black president and second female president in Harvard’s nearly 400-year history. The job will come to an end. The controversy surrounding Harvard University has captivated CEOs, billionaires, powerful donors and even Congressional leaders.

In a letter Tuesday, Harvard defended Gay and said it accepted his resignation “with sadness.” The university’s governing body, the corporation, said it had shown “remarkable resilience in the face of sustained and deeply personal attacks”.

“While some of this took place in public, much of it took the form of vile and, in some cases, racist hate speech directed at her in malicious emails and phone calls. We condemn such attacks in the strongest possible terms,” the letter said.