California Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley said Tuesday that former Harvard University president Claudine Gay's resignation signals “a time of reckoning in higher education,” adding that “how bad the situation has gotten” on campus. He pointed out whether there were any.
Kylie appeared on “The Bottom Line with Dagen & Duffy” and spoke about Gaye's recent expulsion from an elite university after coming under pressure to leave in early December. Fox Business guest host Charles Hart asked California representatives what they want “more” from in response to recent news.
Kiley, who is also a Harvard graduate, praised the move, saying that universities these days “offer too little value.” Kiley emphasized how they have become “the most intolerant place in American life.” (Related: Claudine Gay resigns from Harvard University)
“Well, I think it's a moment of reckoning for higher education in this country.'' So the fact is that our universities cost too much, offer too little value to their graduates, and are a big part of American life.'' It's become the most intolerant place in the world. And it's affecting our entire country,” Kiley said.
“Many of the things that begin in universities, such as the suppression of free speech and the issue of anti-Semitism itself, as we know, go beyond university life and impact our broader culture. ”
The California lawmaker cited a recent speech on the House floor calling for more campus freedoms, noting “how badly” universities like Harvard have “lost their ways.” (Related: CNN reporter slams 'sloppy attribution' of gay president's resignation)
“And as you know… Congressional hearings have brought into stark relief just how badly our universities have lost their way when they were once leading the way in American life. , I gave a speech on my floor a few weeks ago talking about the principles that American universities need to recommit to,” Kiley said.
“Free speech, institutional neutrality, academic freedom, moving away from this corrupt DEI paradigm, and many other things that have led to our universities no longer being centers of intellectual life and progress.” It was meant to be, but in many cases it is now the most backward place in the country. ”
“And, you know, what happened to Harvard and Penn and other universities shows how bad things have gotten in recent months. One of the world's oldest and most regressive prejudices… , has come back in such a troubling way,” Kiley said.
Ms. Gay announced on Tuesday that she was resigning from Harvard University, saying that she believed “with a heavy heart” that it was in the “best interests” of the university. The former university president faced significant backlash in December after he answered questions about students who “support the murder of Jews” during a Congressional hearing with two other top university officials.
After testifying to Congress, Gay was further criticized for plagiarism. There are reportedly six new charges against her, along with nearly 50 plagiarism charges.
