{"id":140453,"date":"2024-01-14T11:43:57","date_gmt":"2024-01-14T16:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/?p=140453"},"modified":"2024-01-14T11:43:57","modified_gmt":"2024-01-14T16:43:57","slug":"professor-who-belittled-christopher-rufos-harvard-degree-apologizes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thecollegefix.com\/professor-who-belittled-christopher-rufos-harvard-degree-apologizes\/","title":{"rendered":"Professor who belittled Christopher Rufo’s Harvard degree ‘apologizes’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Says original remarks were ‘clearly phrased badly’<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The Harvard professor who made fun of conservative journalist Christopher Rufo’s Harvard Extension School degree as “not the same” as those earned by “normal” Harvard students … has offered an apology.<\/p>\n

Sort of.<\/p>\n

Jennifer Hochschild, a professor of government and African\/African American Studies whose work was plagiarized by former Harvard President Claudine Gay, had accused<\/a>\u00a0Rufo of “try[ing] to attach himself to Ivy status and prestige” by noting he has a master’s degree from Harvard.<\/p>\n

“Rufo could have proudly and honorably said, ‘I pulled myself up by bootstraps; to prove it I have master’s degree from Harvard extension school, along with other smart and gutsy students,'” Hochschild (pictured)<\/em> wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“Instead he used weasel words to try to attach himself to Ivy status and prestige. Insecurity??”<\/p>\n

Rufo holds<\/a> a Master’s of Liberal Arts degree from the HES. He noted on X<\/a> earlier this month he’s never tried to hide the distinction, and posted a screencap of a December tweet which directly refutes Hochschild’s contention: “I earned a master’s degree from Harvard’s night school — not nearly as prestigious<\/em> as the graduate school” (emphasis added).<\/p>\n

The Harvard Extension Student Association also responded to the professor’s comments, writing in a statement<\/a> that its members were “deeply disturbed and disappointed.”<\/p>\n

“We firmly oppose any notion that undermines the hard work, dedication, and professional acumen of our peers and alumni,” the HESA wrote. “Generalizations that denigrate HES students do more than unjustly diminish individual achievements; they erode the foundational values of diversity, respect, and academic rigor that are essential to the fabric of Harvard University, and all of its degree-granting schools.\u201d<\/p>\n

MORE:<\/strong> Harvard student leaders apologize for using terms \u2018defund\u2019 and \u2018abolish\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Hochschild responded with an email to the HESA, shared<\/a> with the Harvard student paper The Crimson,<\/em> apologizing “for the way her posts were construed”:<\/p>\n

\u201cI am sorry that my comments were understood to imply a \u2018sentiment . . . that undermines the value and reputation of our institution,\u2019 and that they caused HES students and staff distress,\u201d Hochschild wrote. \u201cThat is far from my views; Harvard is rightly proud of the quality of and access to education manifested every day by HES.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a follow up email, she reiterated her admiration for HES students, writing that their degrees show \u201cgumption, commitment, passion for learning, desire to use education in the service of their job or family or self.\u201d<\/p>\n

My point, which was clearly phrased badly in the original tweet, was that students should proudly state their HES degree,\u201d she wrote. \u201cI have apologized to HES staff and students for inadvertently involving them in a silly debate (of course an HES degree is a real Harvard degree\u2014who said otherwise??) and in an inappropriate challenge to what they should be proud of.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Hochschild’s follow-up message also noted she is \u201ccompletely and enthusiastically in support of HES\u2019s mission of opening access to Harvard courses through a different channel from the conventional admission process.\u201d<\/p>\n

On Saturday\u00a0the professor referred<\/a> to the whole situation as a “maelstrom,” writing to HES students “I regret that you got dragged into a dispute with nothing to do with you,” and again apologized for remarks which “seemed to suggest otherwise.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

On this maelstrom, mainly to HES students\/staff: I regret that you got dragged into a dispute with nothing to do with you, that caused distress.I endorse and admire HES\u2019s promotion of an inclusive, engaged, ambitious student body. I'm sorry my writing seemed to suggest otherwise.<\/p>\n

— Jennifer hochschild (@Jenniferhochsc2) January 13, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n