Harvard faces backlash for naming former Michigan Gov. Snyder as research fellow

Harvard University is facing a backlash online after after announcing that former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) would serve as a senior research fellow on Friday.

Snyder, who served as governor from 2011 to 2019, has been widely criticized for his handling of the Flint, Mich., water crisis, when the city’s drinking water became unsafe due to lead contamination. Last month, his cellphone was seized by authorities in an ongoing investigation of the crisis.

{mosads}Mari Copeny, the 11-year-old known as “Little Miss Flint” who went viral after writing former President Obama a letter convincing him to visit the town, tweeted Sunday, “Harvard has to be smarter than this. #NoSnyderFellowship #SnyderForPrison #FlintWaterCrisis.” 

Harvard has to be smarter than this. #NoSnyderFellowship #SnyderForPrison #FlintWaterCrisis https://t.co/rV1YKldtqj

— Mari Copeny (@LittleMissFlint) July 1, 2019

Others also criticized Harvard for appointing Snyder, using the hashtag #NoSnyderFellowship and encouraging people to write to the school to rescind the fellowship.

Harvard has decided to take on Rick Snyder as a research fellow. Didn’t realize that poisoning millions in Flint was a resume line 🙂

If you want to email Harvard, I wrote one that you can use. More info can be found @prisonculture. #NoSnyderFellowship https://t.co/qtl2LhDGGM

— Hoai An Pham (@HoaiAn_Pham) June 30, 2019

If you’re an alum of any Harvard programs, please consider taking a few moments on your lunch hour to send a letter to @Kennedy_School‘s fellowship for MI Gov Rick Snyder, who oversaw the #FlintWaterCrisis & RT to your networks #NoSnyderFellowship Find templates/email in hashtags pic.twitter.com/Q2zL8mqe7x

— Shanna Peeples (@ShannaPeeples) July 1, 2019

It’s been 1892 days since the #FlintWaterCrisis started. Now they want to give fmr Gov Rick Snyder a fellowship.

Email/call asking them to rescind.#NoSnyderFellowship
jeffrey_liebman@hks.harvard.edu
617-495-8518
Assistant: Hope Patterson
617-495-3158https://t.co/21CJTgosTM

— Merita Bushi (@merita_b) June 30, 2019

In the Friday announcement, Jeffrey Liebman, a Harvard professor and director of the school’s Taubman Center for State and Local Government, where Snyder was appointed, said the former governor will bring “tremendous value to us and our students.”

“Governor Snyder brings his significant expertise in management, public policy, and promoting civility to Harvard Kennedy School,” Liebman said. 

The Hill has reached out to Harvard for comment.