Smith College commencement speaker hands over honorary degree after plagiarism allegation
A Virginia musician has relinquished her honorary degree from Smith College after admitting that she plagiarized most of the commencement speech she delivered to graduates, the school announced.
The prestigious women's Massachusetts school held its graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 18. The school celebrated four honorary degree recipients, including vocal teacher and performer Evelyn Harris, with each recipient expected to write and recite a speech.
But on May 20, Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton announced that Harris "borrowed much" of her commencement speech from others without the "attribution typical of and central to the ideals of 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," Willie-LeBreton said in a statement. "With appreciation for the requirement of academic integrity so central to the values of Smith, Ms. Harris has chosen to relinquish her honorary degree."
Willie-LeBreton said that she respectfully accepted Harris' decision and thanked her for the "long and generative contributions" she has gave to music and culture.
"I appreciate those who brought the dissonance of this moment to our attention and am very grateful for the graciousness of Evelyn Harris’s decision," she added.
Paste BN has reached out to Harris for comment.
Smith College did not immediately respond to Paste BN's request late Wednesday for more information about her speech and what the school says was plagiarized.
Who is Evelyn Harris?
Evelyn Harris is a vocal teacher and musician from Virginia who has performed across the world for more than 50 years.
She is also a member of Massachusetts soul group StompBoxTrio. She performs vocals and percussions alongside fellow artists Paul Kochanski and John Cabán.
The Richmond, Virginia native was became classically trained at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where she became immersed in the local jazz community, according to StompBoxTrio's website.
"In its infancy, Evelyn found her place and developed as a composer, arranger, and lead singer with the group for 18 years, performing with them for the first time in 1974," StompBoxTrio's website states. "Evelyn Harris is a powerhouse vocalist, who creates stirring interpretations of every song she touches."