More than 700 faculty members at Harvard University have signed a letter urging administrators to stand firm and resist the calls for the removal of President Claudine Gay following a recent congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. The letter, obtained by NBC News, emphasizes the importance of defending the university's independence and commitment to academic freedom.

Led by history professor Alison Frank Johnson, the effort garnered support from 723 faculty members, accounting for over a quarter of Harvard's faculty. While the names of the signatories were not disclosed, Johnson expressed satisfaction with the broad base of support received.

Addressed to the Harvard Corporation, the governing body responsible for determining Gay's fate, the letter has raised questions about the university's response. Harvard's press office has yet to comment on the matter.

Adding to the backing of Gay, the executive committee of the Harvard Alumni Association released a separate letter expressing unanimous and unequivocal support for the president's leadership during this challenging time.

The pressure on Gay intensified following the resignation of University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill over the weekend. Gay, Magill, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth faced severe criticism for their handling of a question regarding the punishment of students advocating for the genocide of Jews during the congressional hearing.

Gay's response during the hearing, where she denounced hateful speech but refrained from directly addressing whether it violated Harvard's code of conduct, drew particular scrutiny. Gay later apologized, acknowledging that she had become caught up in the heated exchange.

The viral nature of the university presidents' testimony on social media led to significant backlash from the White House, political leaders from both parties, Jewish community advocates, alumni, and donors. Rep. Elise Stefanik, a Harvard graduate, tweeted "One down. Two to go," referring to the resignations of Magill and potentially Gay and Kornbluth.

Bill Ackman, billionaire investor, echoed Stefanik's sentiment, expressing that the focus now shifts to Presidents Gay and Kornbluth and the boards of Harvard and MIT, respectively. Stefanik, who serves on the House's Education and Workforce Committee, intends to launch an investigation into Harvard, MIT, Penn, and other unnamed universities.

Renowned constitutional law scholar Laurence Tribe confirmed his participation as one of the faculty members who signed the letter, criticizing Gay's testimony as "hesitant, formulaic, and bizarrely evasive." Tribe expressed concern about Gay's ability to effectively lead the university in light of her response during the hearing.

However, opinions among faculty members differ, with Harvard professor and linguist Steven Pinker penning a Boston Globe column questioning the appropriateness of firing Gay in response to the controversy.

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has further divided college campuses nationwide, leading to increased protests and tensions among students. Both the Anti-Defamation League and the Council on American-Islamic Relations have reported a rise in bias incidents since the outbreak of the conflict.

While the fate of President Claudine Gay remains uncertain, Harvard's faculty has shown a united front in urging the administration to uphold the university's commitment to academic freedom and independence. The coming weeks will shed light on how Harvard responds to the calls for Gay's removal and addresses the broader issue of campus antisemitism.