Renowned musician Evelyn Harris surrenders her honorary degree from Smith College after being caught plagiarizing much of her commencement speech, while her bandmates claim the college had pre-approved the controversial content.
Key Takeaways
- Evelyn Harris, a Virginia musician, voluntarily returned her honorary degree from Smith College after admitting to plagiarism in her May 18 commencement speech.
- Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton publicly announced that Harris had “borrowed much of her speech” from others without proper attribution.
- Harris’ bandmates defended her actions, claiming her speech was pre-approved by the college and arguing that in artistic fields, borrowing others’ work is common practice.
- The college has not disclosed how they discovered the plagiarism or identified the original sources of the material.
- A revised version of the commencement ceremony highlights will be made available on Smith College’s website.
Academic Integrity Violated at Prestigious College Ceremony
In a significant blow to her reputation, musician Evelyn Harris has relinquished her honorary degree from Smith College following revelations that she plagiarized substantial portions of her commencement address. The controversy erupted shortly after the May 18 graduation ceremony where Harris was one of four distinguished individuals receiving honorary degrees. The college administration quickly addressed the situation, emphasizing their commitment to academic integrity while Harris accepted responsibility for her actions. This incident highlights the ongoing debate about intellectual property and proper attribution in public speeches, particularly in academic settings.
“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.
Musician’s Response and College Administration Actions
Following discussions with college officials, Harris made the decision to voluntarily return her honorary degree. Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton acknowledged Harris’ cooperation in addressing the matter, noting her forthright admission regarding the unattributed content. The college has announced plans to release a revised version of the commencement ceremony highlights on their website, presumably removing or editing Harris’ speech. Neither Harris nor the college has provided specific details about which portions of the speech were plagiarized or from whom the material was taken, leaving questions about the extent of the academic violation.
“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.
“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.
Bandmates Defend Harris, Questioning College’s Handling
In a surprising twist to the controversy, Harris’ bandmates have come to her defense with claims that her speech had been reviewed and approved by the college prior to the commencement ceremony. This allegation raises serious questions about the institution’s procedures for vetting honorary degree recipients’ speeches and why potential issues weren’t addressed beforehand. The bandmates further argued that in artistic communities, borrowing from others’ work is a common practice that should be viewed as homage rather than plagiarism. Their defense highlights the different standards often applied to academic writing versus artistic expression.
Distinguished Career Overshadowed by Controversy
Evelyn Harris brings over five decades of musical experience to her current role as a vocal teacher and performer with the Massachusetts soul group StompBoxTrio. Her impressive background includes classical training at Howard University and a lengthy tenure with the renowned African-American female a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey in the Rock. Harris has been an active participant in the jazz community, developing her skills as both a composer and vocalist. Despite these accomplishments, this plagiarism controversy threatens to overshadow her artistic legacy and raises questions about whether her contributions to music and culture will now be viewed through a different lens.
“I want to congratulate our graduates and sincerely thank the hundreds of people in our community who worked so hard to create such wonderful events over multiple days, including a Commencement ceremony that felt almost magical,” said Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Smith College President.
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