Why Larry Hogan Just Backed Out of Harvard Fellowships

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced Monday he is withdrawing his offer to participate in two Harvard University fellowships over the school’s response to the Israel-Hamas war.

In a letter to President Claudine Gay, Hogan said he had been looking forward to “sharing leadership lessons” during the fellowships at the Kennedy School of Politics and the Chan School of Public Health.

“Unfortunately, this letter is to officially inform you that I must regretfully withdraw my offer to participate in this engagement,” he wrote. “I cannot condone the dangerous anti-Semitism that has taken root on your campus, especially by more than 30 Harvard student organizations attempting to justify and celebrate Hamas’ terrorism against innocent Israeli and American civilians.”

While he defended the free speech rights of students, Hogan said their speech should have been more forcefully challenged by the University. 

Harvard’s failure to do so is “a moral stain on the University,” Hogan argued.  

“The lessons of history are clear: we must all do our part to take a clear stand in the face of genocidal acts against the Jewish people or any group. There is no “both sides” when it comes to the murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent women and children,” he continued.

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Hogan said he hopes his decision prompts the University to “take meaningful action to address anti-Semitism and restore the values Harvard should represent in the world.”

We must take a clear stand in the face of genocidal acts against the Jewish people or any group. There is no “both sides” when it comes to the murder, rape, and kidnapping of innocent women and children.

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) October 23, 2023

Following widespread criticism of Harvard's response to the student groups, Gay said “no student group — not even 30 student groups — speaks for Harvard University or its leadership.”

Hogan's decision is the latest fallout for Harvard over its response. Earlier this month, Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer and his wife resigned from their posts on the executive board of Harvard’s Kennedy School and withdrew a planned donations of millions of dollars.