Musician Evelyn Harris surrendered her honorary degree after Smith College discovered she plagiarized substantial portions of her commencement speech, igniting debate over academic standards versus artistic expression.
Key Takeaways
- Evelyn Harris voluntarily returned her honorary degree from Smith College after admitting to using uncredited material from other speeches in her commencement address.
- College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton publicly announced the plagiarism issue, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to academic integrity.
- Harris’ bandmates defended her actions, claiming the speech was pre-approved by the college and arguing that borrowing content is common practice in artistic communities.
- The controversy highlights the cultural divide between academic standards of original content and the artistic practice of drawing inspiration from existing works.
- Smith College plans to release a revised version of the commencement ceremony highlights on their website, effectively removing Harris’ speech.
Academic Standards Violated at Elite Liberal College
In a stunning development that has rocked the academic community, musician Evelyn Harris has surrendered her honorary degree from Smith College following revelations that she plagiarized significant portions of her May 18 commencement address. Harris, a Virginia musician with over 50 years of experience and former member of the African-American female a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock, was one of four honorary degree recipients at the prestigious liberal arts college’s graduation ceremony. The college, known for its progressive values and academic rigor, now faces questions about its vetting process for honorary degree recipients.
“I must share with you, however, that it has come to our attention that one of our honorary degree recipients — musician Evelyn M. Harris — borrowed much of her speech to graduates and their families from the commencement speeches of others without the attribution typical of and central to the ideals of academic integrity,” said Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Smith College President.
The Plagiarism Discovery and Aftermath
Smith College has remained tight-lipped about exactly how they discovered the plagiarism or which specific sources Harris borrowed from without attribution. The college’s president, Sarah Willie-LeBreton, made the announcement in a campus-wide email, revealing that Harris had chosen to relinquish her honorary degree following discussions with college officials. The decision came after what the college described as forthright conversations with Harris about her choices. Willie-LeBreton acknowledged Harris’ contributions to music and culture while emphasizing the college’s commitment to academic integrity.
“In conversations about this after the event, Ms. Harris was forthcoming about her choices while also acknowledging that she sought to infuse the words of others with her own emotional valence,” said Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Smith College President.
Artistic Expression vs. Academic Standards
In a surprising twist to the controversy, Harris’ bandmates from StompBoxTrio have come to her defense, challenging the very notion of plagiarism in artistic contexts. They claim that Harris’ speech had been pre-approved by Smith College officials and suggested that the matter could have been handled privately rather than through a public announcement. Their defense highlights a fundamental tension between academic standards of original content and attribution versus artistic practices that often involve covering, sampling, or drawing inspiration from existing works.
The bandmates argued that Harris was honoring others’ words rather than attempting to claim them as her own original thoughts, suggesting that what academics consider plagiarism might be viewed as homage or artistic interpretation in musical and cultural contexts. This perspective raises important questions about the applicability of rigid academic standards to artists and performers who operate in creative spaces where the boundaries of originality are often fluid and contested. Harris, who was classically trained at Howard University and has been involved in jazz and soul music for decades, moves in circles where musical interpretation and improvisation are valued.
Institutional Response and Reputation Management
Smith College’s swift action in addressing the plagiarism reflects the institution’s concern for its academic reputation. In addition to accepting Harris’ return of the honorary degree, the college announced plans to release a revised version of the commencement ceremony highlights on their website—effectively erasing Harris’ contribution from the official record. The other honorary degree recipients, including Harvard professor Danielle Allen and journalist Preeti Simran Sethi, remain unaffected by the controversy, highlighting the selective nature of the college’s response.
“With appreciation for the requirement of academic integrity so central to the values of Smith, Ms. Harris has chosen to relinquish her honorary degree,” said Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Smith College President.
The situation underscores the growing tension between traditional academic values and evolving cultural practices in the digital age, where the line between inspiration and appropriation has become increasingly blurred. For conservative observers, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding traditional standards of academic integrity and personal responsibility, even as liberal institutions struggle to reconcile these values with their embrace of cultural relativism and postmodern approaches to knowledge and authorship.
