Hundreds of Harvard professors defend president amid political pressure to resign

Petition to Harvard Corporation, which has authority to fire Claudine Gay, urges it not bend to lawmakers’ demands

At least 570 professors at Harvard have defended embattled university president Claudine Gay as she faces calls to resign following statements on campus antisemitism that have already triggered the resignation of the University of Pennsylvania president.

The faculty submitted a petition to the 13-member Harvard Corporation, which has the authority to fire the president, asking it not bend to political pressure to remove her.