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