Harvard University has just removed a resident dean whose old social media rants have sparked a firestorm.

The Ivy League giant parted ways with Gregory Davis, the former Allston Burr Resident Dean at Dunster House, after his past online posts attacking police, criticizing cultural norms, and targeting former President Donald Trump resurfaced and went viral.

Davis had served in his role for some time, presenting himself as an open-minded figure, yet his digital footprint told a different story with years of pointed commentary aimed at conservatives.

Unpacking the Social Media Controversy

Among the unearthed posts, Davis didn’t hold back, urging followers “to love each other and hate the police,” a statement that raises eyebrows when coming from someone in a position of student mentorship.

Surely, fostering dialogue is one thing, but publicly advocating disdain for law enforcement feels like a step beyond reasonable critique.

Then there’s the post about Trump’s COVID-19 diagnosis in 2020, where Davis shared a meme stating, “If he dies, he dies,” a chillingly cavalier remark about a sitting president’s health crisis.

Further Posts Fuel the Fire

That wasn’t the only jab at Trump; Davis repeatedly likened him to Adolf Hitler in various messages, a comparison that stretches historical analogies to breaking point.

Additionally, his commentary on cultural identity, including sharp criticism of what he termed “whiteness” and “white supremacy,” framed these concepts as inherently destructive, leaving little room for nuance or discussion.

During the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, Davis equated rioting and looting to democratic acts like voting, a stance that many might find equates chaos with civic duty.

Harvard Responds to the Backlash

As these posts spread across the internet, the reaction was swift, and Harvard faced mounting pressure to address the situation.

Faculty Deans sent an email to the Dunster House community confirming “that Gregory Davis is no longer serving” in his role, a polite but firm acknowledgment of his exit.

By the time the controversy hit major outlets like the Daily Caller News Foundation, Davis had already set his X account to private, and it now appears to be entirely deleted, perhaps a belated attempt to scrub the digital evidence.

New Leadership Steps In

In the wake of this upheaval, Harvard moved quickly to appoint Emilie Raymer as the Interim Resident Dean for Dunster House, signaling a fresh start for the community.

While Davis’s departure may close this chapter, it opens a broader conversation about the balance between personal expression and professional responsibility, especially at an institution that shapes young minds.

One wonders if Harvard will use this moment to reflect on how ideological echo chambers can form, even among those tasked with guiding students, or if this will simply be swept under the prestigious rug.