Criticism of Claudine Gay swelled after her testimony before a House panel last month. Photo: Ken Cedeno/Reuters Harvard University President Claudine Gay has resigned after facing mounting criticism over how she responded to antisemitism on campus and, most recently, allegations that she plagiarized the work of other researchers on multiple occasions. Gay said in a message to the Harvard community Tuesday afternoon that she would step down “with a heavy heart but deep love for Harvard,” and that the decision was “difficult beyond words.” She said she would return to the faculty.