Overview

• Evelyn M. Harris, a musician and former member of Sweet Honey in the Rock, was accused of borrowing passages from other speeches without proper attribution during her May 18 commencement address at Smith College.
• Harris returned the honorary degree she received at the ceremony, a decision Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton described as gracious and aligned with the institution’s values of academic integrity.
• President Willie-LeBreton addressed the incident in a May 20 letter to the campus community, emphasizing the importance of proper attribution and accountability in academic and ceremonial contexts.
• Smith College plans to revise and republish the commencement ceremony highlights on its website to reflect the incident and subsequent developments.
• Harris has not made any public statements regarding the plagiarism allegations or her decision to return the honorary degree, beyond acknowledging her actions in discussions with college officials.