kagan

OK, just kidding. But just for a second, the Harvard class of 2010 thought the Hutt-like former president had been brought back for the job: someone sent the gullible young ones an official-looking e-mail announcing the appointment. The buzz over at Bored@Lamont is pinning the prank on the Lampoon. The best part? The practical joke forced Harvard to declare their real pick a day early, and it’s perhaps more exciting: law school dean Elena Kagan, who will be the first queen of the Crimson (i.e. female president).  Looks like Bollinger really is sticking around a little longer.

Faux and genuine e-mails after the jump, courtesy of Zachary Katz, Harvard ’10.

Update, 10:30 PM: Gullible? That would be us. Looks like we post-happy Bwoggers called the race too early, while other Harvard blogs had the sense to be skeptical.

———- Forwarded message ———-

From: Presidential Search Committee < psearch@harvard.edu>

Date: Feb 3, 2007 7:26 PM

Subject: Announcement from the Presidential Search Committee

To: undisclosed-recipients

February 2007

Dear Members of the Harvard Community,

On behalf of Harvard’s governing boards, we write to inform you that a

decision has been reached regarding Harvard’s next president. The search for Harvard’s next president has been a long and arduous process.  Students, faculty, and alumni alike have dedicated countless hours throughout these past seven months. Special thanks are in order to the  undergraduate student advisory committee: Whitney S. F. Baxter ’07, Katherine A. Beck ’08, and Vivek G. Ramaswamy ’07.

We are pleased to announce the reinstatement of Lawrence H. Summers as Harvard’s once and future president. We understand that the decision may  come as a surprise to those that have been following the selection process. After reviewing the candidates, however, we have come to the conclusion that Dr. Summers is best suited to lead Harvard, particularly in our plans for Allston and beyond.

// –>To address concerns regarding Dr. Summers’ previous tenure, we will be hosting an open forum discussion with Dr. Summers to be held in Sanders Theater on February 5, at 5:00 P.M. Three hundred seats will be  available for undergraduate students, to be distributed by an open lottery. To enter the lottery, please call the Presidential Search Committee at (617) 576-6565, and leave your name and e-mail address. The

deadline to enter is tonight, February 3, at midnight.

Again, thank you for your patience and support throughout this process.

Sincerely,

The Presidential Search Committee

And the follow up:

———- Forwarded message ———-

From: Office of the Dean of Harvard College <gross@fas.harvard.edu>

Date: Feb 3, 2007 8:01 PM

Subject: Please Read

To: undisclosed-recipients

Dear Students,

Please disregard the earlier e-mail labeled “Announcement from the Presidential Search Committee.”  The e-mail was a hoax.  We are currently looking into the source of this misinformation.

Given the substantial confusion caused by the incident, we feel compelled to make the actual announcement one day early.  Former Dean of Harvard Law School, Elena Kagan, has been selected as the 28th President of Harvard University.  An official press release will be issued in the upcoming hours, as well as a more formal introduction.