Harvard Dean Gregory Davis dismissed following resurfacing of social media posts critical of White people and police

Harvard Dean Dismissed Over Controversial Social Media Posts

A dean at Harvard University has been let go following the exposure of social media posts that criticized whiteness, law enforcement, and even supported looting and rioting.

Gregory Davis, who served as the resident dean of Dunster House’s Allston Bar, found himself under scrutiny after posts surfaced from the student-operated news organization, Yard Report. He had been on leave for unrelated reasons during the previous semester.

While Harvard hasn’t officially stated that his dismissal was due to these posts, an email from the Dean of Dunster House confirmed Davis’s departure. The email expressed gratitude for his contributions and wished him well.

Emily Reimer, who stepped in as interim dean while Davis was away, will now assume the role permanently.

The communication concluded with a welcoming note aimed at the Dunster community, encouraging feedback on relevant issues.

The disputed posts were made between 2019 and 2024, mainly on X and Instagram. Davis is slated to assume the position of dormitory director in 2024.

In one such post from 2019, Davis described “whiteness” as a harmful ideology. He also criticized police during heightened tensions in 2020, suggesting that his friends in law enforcement were racist and should resign.

Amid nationwide protests, Davis justified the unrest, stating that rioting and looting are valid expressions of democracy alongside voting.

In 2020, as the pandemic spread, he expressed a lack of sympathy for those who wished ill upon then-President Donald Trump, further revealing his controversial views through a meme.

Before taking his role as director of Dunster House in 2024, Davis posted a message during Pride Month that included an anti-police sentiment.

When faced with scrutiny over these statements, he reached out to residents of Dunster House, clarifying that his past comments didn’t represent his current beliefs and expressing regret for any potential harm they may have caused.

In his message, he emphasized his commitment to creating a welcoming environment in Dunster House, adding that efforts to collaborate with law enforcement on and off campus have been a priority since he took the role.