Harvard University has withdrawn convicted leaker Chelsea Manning‘s title of “visiting fellow” roughly 24 hours after she was given that title.
JUST IN: Harvard Kennedy School dean says “designating Chelsea Manning as a Visiting Fellow was a mistake” and withdraws Fellow title pic.twitter.com/zaEPCafhPg
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 15, 2017
Douglas Elmendorf, the dean of the Harvard Kennedy School released a statement explaining what a “visiting fellow” actually went and what was behind naming Manning as one of them, but also clarified that the university was in no way “honoring” her.
“In general across the school, we do not view the title of “fellow” as conveying a special honor; rather, it is a way to describe some people who spend more than a few hours at the school,” Elmendorf writes. “We did not intend to honor her in any way or to endorse any of her words or deeds, as we do not honor or endorse any fellow.”
He said designating Manning as a visiting fellow “was a mistake” and he accepts responsibility. However, while he did rescind the title, he did not rescind her invitation to speak on campus.
This came shortly after ex-CIA Chief Mike Morell resigned from his fellowship over Manning’s given title as well as CIA Director Mike Pompeo cancelled his speaking engagement.