The rule of thumb for scandals is that you can wait them out unless there are criminal charges involved or the scandal is so extensive that new stuff will keep dropping all the time. That’s what was happening with Harvard President Claudine Gay.

As more instances of plagiarism kept popping up, Harvard was facing an extended reputational disaster with no end in sight and possible legal exposure if a student punished for plagiarism were to sue over double standards.

But instead of dumping her, Harvard allowed her to resign, for the usual reason of avoiding further distractions, while retaining an academic post and her $900,000 salary.

There was probably a better reason for removing her from any academic position than from the presidency. College presidents aren’t necessarily models of academic integrity or even academics. There’s a bigger problem with a faculty member with a history of plagiarism than a president.

A serial plagiarist may not be good enough to be president of Harvard, but can still hold an academic position.

Does she go back to her old position as a Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean? Probably not. Harvard is likely to create some sort of semi-honorary vanity position for her. And that takes us right back to where we started.

Can an alleged serial plagiarist hold a prominent position at Harvard? Apparently, the answer is still yes.