Harvard 'termination' letter shared by thousands of Twitteratis is fake
Harvard 'termination' letter shared by thousands of Twitteratis is fake
(Reuters) – Tens of thousands of Twitter users have shared a fake letter from Harvard College appearing to dismiss a student for their social media activity.
The letter seemed to be sent by email from the Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Education, an undergraduate residential college of Harvard University in the US state of Massachusetts.
It appeared on Twitter as early as August 11 with the caption “I feel sick to my stomach…” and was liked 17,500 times. The image was then reposted by other accounts, one of which had received 43,900 likes at the time of writing.
— incognito tab #3 (@notcrypticno) August 11, 2021
— Khathide_ (@_Mbuso_K) August 12, 2021
— Lauw (@MohlomiMatsoso) August 11, 2021
— Dudes Taking Ls (@DudesTakingLs) August 11, 2021
Firstly, the letter is addressed ‘Dear student’ – rather than by name, unlikely for such an important email. Secondly, the phrases “terminated from Harvard”, “speculating your social media accounts” and “transmit a good reputation” are unusual and unlikely to be used by a native English speaker.
— molls (@444molls) August 11, 2021
Harvard University confirmed the letter was false when contacted by Reuters. Harvard spokesperson Rachael Dane said in an email: “This is not a communication from the Harvard Office of Admissions and Financial Aid or the Office of Undergraduate Education.
“Neither Office sent this fabricated communication.”
It is not the first time supposed letters from the university have been faked online. A Harvard rejection letter went viral in 2015 but was soon discovered to be satire (here).
VERDICT
False. Harvard University told Reuters that a letter purportedly showing it dismissing a student for their social media activity was fabricated.
