Evelyn Harris Relinquishes Honorary Degree Amid Plagiarism Controversy at Smith College Commencement
In a surprising turn at Smith College’s 147th commencement ceremony on Sunday, musician Evelyn Harris announced she would be relinquishing her honorary degree. The decision came after the college discovered instances of plagiarism in her commencement speech. College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton revealed that Harris had borrowed significant segments from other speeches without proper attribution, a violation of academic integrity.
Harris later acknowledged the plagiarism, arguing she aimed to infuse the borrowed words with her emotional perspective. President Willie-LeBreton expressed gratitude for those who highlighted the issue and commended Harris for her decision to return the degree, emphasizing the importance of academic values.
The college is now reworking the highlights of the commencement ceremony, which will be shared on its website in due course. Evelyn Harris, an accomplished vocal teacher and former member of the a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, was one of four honorary degree recipients this year, alongside prominent figures such as political philosophy professor Danielle Allen and former Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine. Smith College officials have yet to comment further on the incident.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image of the presented article.
