Did Harvard's plagiarism scandal doom DEI? | Aaron Sibarium | Just Asking Questions, Ep. 5 

The Gay saga is a DEI story because it is such an undeniable example of how her racial identity and gender were her primary "qualifications" for the presidency of the university. She has no track record as an administrator or scholar, but she ticked the correct boxes. She was selected to make the Harvard Board look good, not because it would good for Harvard itself.

Just imagine if Stefanik had asked "is it OK for students at Harvard to call for the genocide of black people or gay people "

She should be dismissed from Harvard completely. As long as she is still employed by Harvard she will remain a blight on Harvard.

I’m a trial lawyer, and I’ve spent many hours preparing witnesses for cross examination. If these two university presidents had been my clients, I would have had my head in my hands while getting cross examined by Stefanik. They did horrible. Smirking, waffling, resorting to stupid talking points….and these were such easy questions to handle.

Harvard's reputation plummeted even before the Claudine Gay debacle. The school was ranked dead last (148 out of 148) by FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Expression)-the lowest score for any school in the organization's history. It was demoted to 9th nationwide in the 2023 Forbes rankings. (True: no ranking system is universally valid or appropriate, of course, but neither are they entirely without merit.). I'm very confident Harvard won't be in the Forbes top 10 in 2024 and have offered bets as such, but nobody will bet against that claim. I think an even odds bet would be a ranking of 14. After that, who knows?

I'm not conservative. I'm an atheist (although it the UK that's pretty common on both sides) and I care about the environment, but all this woke nonsense has gone way too far: it's time to roll it back.

Wow, that incident at Yale.. holy moly. You said it was a shit show, that's an understatement. I can't believe these students would respond that way. So, I thought this was a fantastic interview. Thanks for hosting it, a lot of sound points. About the Claudine Gay issue and plagiarism, I'm astonished by how many people cried racism over this, and actually defended Claudine Gay, despite the plagiarism that was clearly available for all to see. Mind boggling. So, my point, as some dude on the internet, there's some nasty stuff coming around the corner with this radicalism that's grown under colleges and DEI efforts that sadly have an anti-white and anti-America animus. These students seem like they are on the verge of signing up for the likes of the Weather Underground type of activists/terrorists. I'd encourage you all to keep going. If you can, try to host some debates with opposing views, if possible? Definitely highlight the double-standards when you can. Something is definitely 'Rotten in the state of Denmark'.

The response to the Hamas terrorist attacks of 7 October 2023 at the Ivy League schools effectively exposed the failings of DEI almost immediately. It's getting bad enough that employers are now openly wondering if hiring an Ivy League graduate is actually worth the trouble to the company. Harvard sets the standard for the Ivy League, and the debacle with Claudine Gay will reflect badly on the prestige of the Ivy League.

Defending plagiarism, at the dawn of the age of AI, seems like specifically the worst move possible for an elite academic institution

It's collectivism (tribalism) vs moral individualism.

In my industry, I work with a large number of people who have attended these "elite" schools. With the exceptions of the more technical institutions such as RIT and MIT, I have stopped being impressed by graduates from the more exclusive schools for a long time now. For the most part, particularly with the newest graduates, they have an advantage as far as the breadth of their knowledge in most given areas (and not necessarily the depth of such knowledge), but this advantage equals out among their peers in the workforce after something like three years. After that time, I do not really see anything special in them or about them. I no longer see "elite" schools as "elite" - I see them as merely more expensive and exclusive. That's it. Ultimately, in my mind, the true value of those institutions is the quality of the networking that the graduates achieve by the time they leave the institution.

DEI programs were just getting started at State schools over the last couple of years. I don't think they will be firing those people anytime soon. We'll have to get to a funding crisis point before they even consider it.

Zach wishing Rufo was more tame/restrained in his dissemination of the evidence of Gay's plagiarism smacks of naivety. Rufo moved the needle into an actionable direction not because he lit a candle; he lit a forest fire, and justice was ultimately served due to that zeal. For journalists, reporting facts coldly when the facts are actually on fire is how important stories never reach the world.

No, it didn't doom DEI, it's just another symptom of DEI rottenness.

To note, the officer wasn't "accused of killing Michael Brown", which everyone agrees he did. Nor was he acquitted. He was investigated for civil rights violations and murdering Michael Brown. He was not brought to trial because he shot in self-defense, as Brown was attacking him.

Claudine Gay deserved to lose her job! She's still doing well and has 900,000 reasons to be happy!

She even plagiarized her answer in congress "it depends on the context", which smirky woman has just said. (she seemed to find genocide quite amusing)

She deserved to be fired just for what she did to Roland Fryer. Her incompetence and lack of leadership is best demonstrated by her decision to ruined the career of professor Roland Fryer.

Incompetence is when you can't even plagiarize right. Plagiarism is a major talking point at Universities and Colleges here in Ontario, Canada. It is becoming aggressively widespread -- impacting grading, research, and the underpinnings of academic and student culture. Schools think they can policy away the problem. The problem is the people who do it don't see anything wrong for doing it. Even when they're caught, they deny it and outright lie in their defense. To dig themselves out of that hole they use damn boiler-plates that they plagiarized to guide them.

It frightens me to think that so many mediocre people are being appointed to critical positions of responsibility despite their lack of substantive qualification. This episode should frighten everyone and expose DEI for what it really is.

Don’t ever believe someone making $900,000 annually is “Oppressed”

Plagiarism like this would have had a high school student before a board at the high school I used to teach, and she was a president of one of the elite colleges in the USA? I listened to a podcast where a scholar warned Harvard board not to appoint her as it would end in a train wreck.

In the business world, economics will kill DEI. Schools are subsidized by the state, so as long as the state is woke and subsidizing schools, the schools will be woke.

President position is about representing prestige and ability to attract investors. She became a disgrace (but proper representative) to Harvard. Not a top of the nation examplary figure. That's it

Ackman is right 100% in everything he posted.

Lazy academic. Not really worthy of being a professor.

The problem with this view of "well at least she was defending free speech" is that it amounts to supporting double standards. We all know that whether the N word is considered harassment at Harvard would not be context dependent. She doesn't give a damn and free speech unless it benefits her in some way.

What a bullshit definition of DEI philosophy and policy perspectives on social issues around disparities. One couldn’t help but notice the wink wink (racist) undercoding about the over representation of black people in the NBA.

All people in academia are standing on the shoulders of giants (or possibly dwarves in the social sciences), but if you're the president of the University you should be held to the highest standards and for her to try to suppress the story is inexcusable. She should be let go.

Today, Harvard has as much clout as an ivy league community college.

I work as a research and teaching librarian at a major university. every paper, theses, and dissertation gets processed through a plagiarism checking software.

The university presidents thought they were so smart in their identical answers in congress. But it was actually compounding the disgusting general impression they made. Giving legalese answer to a question about aggression norms, student body atmosphere and values on campus.

The Harvard fact-checking apparatchiks did their job. Such a fine training exercise for future Harvard leaders. We salute you, comrades.

10:40 Eww...Imagine copying heartfelt personal acknowledgements; that too is about integrity.🙈😭

On campus, and "calling for Genocide" is explicitly calling for targeted violence. This not protected speech of opinions. What about white students calling for renewed lynching of blacks? Also protected speech until it turns into conduct? What's the difference?

Yeah, Gay followed McGill. She should have learned something from the questions McGill failed to answer reasonably. She fell back on copying.

I wish they would give the parents of students say. Not much talk about that in the media. After all, we are footing the excessive tuition. Am I throwing money away to fund someone else’s racist political agenda?

Also, sorry to comment 2 in a row--I just broke up with a man whose adult daughter helps college students plagiarize, by ghost writing their papers. This is a real thing.

C.Gay needs to be resigned from her professor's position too. What she can to advise? To make plagiarism?

My too sense>>> I was living up the street from the 'vid around 25 years ago and the rumors had started on how the school was in a downward trend. I moved away, came back several years later and was told that it was getting even worse which surprised me as i thought it would just be a brief dip in reputation. Sadly, as the months rolled by, then years, it was evident that Harvard could never right the ship and now it is painfully obvious that they have completely lost the status they had for centuries. If you are a parent now and send your kid to this .... 'university' -- you are about as stupid as it gets.

This is what happens when you go by the color of the skin instead of merit

You are both on a roll. Really interesting guest and well managed interview.

To address the title : I doubt that it has doomed DEI. At best it has made a small dent in the project. DEI is *everywhere* in academia, in the government administrative apparatus, in corporations. It's everywhere and it's pretty much taken over. It will take decades to wind it back.

Rules for thee, but not for me!

Aaron seems to forget what Stefanik actually asked. Calling for the genocide of Jews, a group already living in the shadow of credible threats of violence on campuses across the US, is not a micro-anything. It's entirely possible to exclude genocidal rhetoric from the protections offered to free speech without hypocrisy, and without misreading the First Amendment for that matter. Should professors be free to question trans ideology? Obviously. Should they be free to recommend the massacre of trans people? No. You can accuse me of being wrong about that if you like, but not on grounds of inconsistency. My positions are compatible.

Why is every college administrator who's presided over a segregated graduation ceremony not facing charges under the Civil Rights Act of 1964?

Those are minor and lame examples. Why not just call her out for being a marxist?

Let me try to work this out, as an Israeli in Israel right now who graduated from a top college in America. I sort of agree- I would probably not have an issue with the actual, complete free speech in campuses, were that to be true. What's a lot, lot more concerning is the actual harrassment and attacks on Jews in the campuses in question. The thing that disturbs me the most is that the presidents acted as if this was *just* a speech issue.

When talking with others about Peter Boghassin saying these institutions need burning down and rebuilding they claim that he’s being extremist. The 3 at the hearing proved him and myself right.

Calling for genocide is incitement to actual violence in the current context... which is actually not constitutionally protected speech, but actually criminal in most locales.

I'm trying to figure out, in what context, calling for a genocide, is acceptable.

You didn't have to write that opinion piece... you should have resigned.

So what will get her fired?

She needs to lose her 900k income. And be subject to the same rules that her students are subject too

I sure hope this scandal will help bring down DEI.

What was Gay’s dissertation committee doing? Did they not read the chapters she wrote? What are these professors being paid for? What are they teaching?

All levels of US government also have a role in DEI ideology

Thank you all for caring enough to work so hard for truth, or its approximation…it proves allusive.

I got degree from Harvard. Foreigner. I was proud of USA, was proud of US University, was proud of US Soceiety, was proud of free speach ...but not any more. It is like in medieval era. It reminds me of pre-war era of Japan, some inquisistions of middle ages, some presecution under dictatorship countries....with special "hung-up" with the word "antisemetism." This is USA.. stunned.

Destroy DEI

The Gay blade is tarnished-- but dont drop your shields; DEI is still alive and dangerous. Also: I've noticed that there is here a lot more critical commentary on Rufo than on the left Wokers made here; please, Rufo is hardly in the same league as Gay, etc.; what are your real political positions? I only ask.

Harvard and Gay are best joke

48:00 Aaron has to really think about whether to utter *"Anti-White"* or dance around it *Good for him for stating the obvious truth plainly* 👍

It was the hypocrisy....in your face, Ms. Stephanic. Rules for thee, not for me......m'kkaayyy?

DEI destroyed DEI.

The fact that at H they grade inflate isn’t really new - quite old actually. But they have a perfect network that helps later with landing jobs. That I think is why people join those expensive schools.

I am sympatic to Reason's advocacy of free speech in (almost?) all situations. But I think advocating for violence toward others is a wall that should not be breached. Referring to this as a "micro-aggression" and in the same category as the plethora of safet-space unacceptable phrases is just wrong. As for my background, I am not Jewish, and I believe it is in Israel's best interest to treat citizens of Gaza and the West Banck better.

01/31/24: Aaron, plagiarism is a heinous crime. It is STEALING. I am very proud of you for the work you've done on this issue. And now Sherri Charleston at Harvard (DEI, what else?) is in the Gay Parade (Harvard is going to have to change its name to the University of Plagiarism). Good luck in the future.

But they do micromanage cultural divisions - especially for black, gay, native, students.

Since the University gets tax dollars, someone needs to be in charge, even for a Halloween party. There need to be perimeters of good conduct and reminding these young adults about decorum with their costume. If it’s a party off-campus, they can go naked if they want…but on campus there needs to be rules.

DEI made Harvard's plagiarism scandal inevitable. If it wasn't Harvard, it would have been another ivy league school.

I just don’t get how homophobic you guys are regarding Claudine What’s-Her-Name. This is 2024 for Christ’s sakes

Wait, Aaron was FORCED to write an op ed that didn't actually reflect his opinion as editor? Or else what? Or else he'd have to resign as editor? Oh, right. He could have simply resigned. First World Problems.

The 'Gay scandal' should not doom DEI, but i believe exercising DEI as the only reason someone is put in a position such as President of Harvard is outrages. Gay is clearly not qualified to be in a position of having subordinates. You simply cannot be in control of others when you cannot control yourself. Now Gay uses all the worn out 'it's racism , misogynistic, unfair', euphemisms, for her own behavior. That's a leader? It's always someone else's fault.

Fear not feelings were what Jewish students were experiencing. Logical, appropriate fear. Like the black people felt in the 50s, right before they were killed by mobs. That's why it's a violation of codes of conduct.

Good show. It's obvious to people who can think clearly that Gay's ouster -- and those calling for it -- were not engaged in cancel culture. She had failed on multitudinous axes to uphold the standards of her own job qua university president. This was not James Damore.

Bill Ackman is why I started paying attention to DEI. My watching this program can also be attributed to Bill Ackman. I do not understand Liz's animus. Her stated hostility that Ackman is late to the party of awareness is not supported by the social learning curve in society. In fairness the legacy media has not reported on DEI's dangers. Its the exact opposite.

It's unfortunate when your star witness can't talk to the points but rather has to "Illuminate" everything with long boring deconstruction to emphasize how amazing he thinks he is. What a burk! Pflah!!

49:18 -- Why aren't they doing a class critique? Don't we know the answer to that? We live in a classless society. Talking about class is forbidden!

If you don't want to collect scalps, you could try foreskins. 1 Samuel 25-27

There should not be crimes or violations of policy that are "on a spectrum" and don't have clear punishments. Nor should there be examples like technical language when you can't reword yet you are expected to.

No i didn't. Nothing will change unless the faculty shapes up. They do not care about the DEI. The president of a university is only meant to be a fundraiser.

Gay should have been fired, and the committee that reviewed her work and hired her anyway, should have been fired. I think the issue was all the anti-Israel, pro Gaza students getting radical, and in some cases violent. Gay made no effort to tone anything down. I don’t want my tax money used at any University that can’t keep a balance on issues. You often see a speaker come, who’s booed and yelled at, rather than being there to hear what they have to say. The purpose of the University should be to present the issues, on both sides of an issue. As an adult, you can make up your own mine…what seems is the unbalance of professors who are Marxist and Socialist. These students claim they are adults, and they vote, which is scary if they have Marxism instilled into their mind-thought.

I think it was a combination of corporate fails. Disney, Target, Budweiser, Boeing, academia all of these as a whole have slew the dragon that is woke

Claudine is whats known in the old school days as a TOKEN as for DEI it will go away but get rebranded and sent back out as another academic idea college is plauged with fascisim

Surprisingly good,intelligent discussion.thanks

Sorry, there is a ton of money in DEI and soon the only job will be teaching it to others. The problem is DEI picks winners and losers based on race and that is unconstitutional. So you can teach it but you can't implement it.

She probably didn't think anyone would actually read it. Wha a snooze.

We should abandon the notion of elite 4 year colleges in light of the social issues which brought about DEI. It's a fraud that these students are intellectually superior .

That smug smirk on Magill's face says it all. They were all prepped by fancy lawyers before they gave their testimony.

Reason should try plagiarism. Make a good fuckin video for once

I think she has been plagiarising because she has been employed beyond her abilities, doesn’t know what is expected of a person in her position and is totally incapable of it

The ignorant has the right to regurgitate their misconception of the world ; They do not, however have any right to force that opinion on anyone, and certainly may not turn their thoughts in to unwelcomed actions, that may affect other peoples life's.

Those Yale students are the ultimate in embarrassment. Nothing can top that. Nothing. All these years later it’s still the most embarrassing thing ever

DEI is not untethered to the marxist framework inherent in these other iterations of wokeism, intersectionality etc. I can tell you from personal experience as a foster parent in Canada, that this is required training now in order to become a foster parent, and these ideas are taught as a whole and of a piece.

I’ve only heard very little about this

By saying "People of Color" do they in fact mean "Colored People"?

I am a retired English professor and veteran of 30+ years of successfully prosecuting cheaters for plagiarism before a college board composed of students and faculty. This example is out-and-out, Grade A, gold-plated plagiarism of the first order. Nothing remotely ambiguous. In fact, it's on about a middle-school level of crudity--the kind I was taught how not to do in 7th grade. Anyone trying to defend this is as intellectually dishonest as the perpetrator. And would you trust the ability and integrity of her use of data in her field!?

Who will be the next black queen of DEI at Harvard?

What a great interview! I’m a huge Aaron Sibarium fan now.