Title: Harvard Addresses Antisemitism Lawsuits, Reinforces Zionism Support
Harvard University settled two complaints on Tuesday, addressing allegations of mishandling antisemitism and failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students following Hamas' deadly attack on Israel in October 2023. The university faced backlash from alumni, donors, and the U.S. Congress over its response to the attacks and ensuing Pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus.
Two complaints were filed: one by Jewish graduate student Alexander Kestenbaum and Students Against Antisemitism, accusing Harvard leaders of failing to address instances of pro-Hamas students and faculty promoting violence against Jews, harassing, and assaulting them on campus. The other complaint was brought by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education.
Harvard's settlement agreements involve adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism—which includes claims that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor—as part of its anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies. This move is expected to provide a clear and comprehensive understanding of what constitutes antisemitism, helping to identify and address instances more effectively.
The university will also post a Frequently Asked Questions page about its discrimination policies, emphasizing that conduct targeting Zionists can also be a violation, similar to harassment towards Jews or Israelis. Furthermore, Harvard will establish an official partnership with an unnamed Israeli university and hire a staff member to handle complaints of antisemitism, preparing annual reports for the next five years. Monetary terms were part of both settlements, although specific details were not disclosed.
Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin and Pershing Square Capital Management founder and CEO Bill Ackman—both long-time benefactors of Harvard—are yet to comment on whether they will resume their donations to the university after the settlements. Taiwanese-American businessman Len Blavatnik, who also halted giving to Harvard after testifying before Congress, expressed satisfaction with the university's decision to take meaningful steps to address antisemitism on campus.
Former Harvard president Lawrence Bacow, who led the university between 2018 and 2023, is comfortable with the settlement agreements. He believes they will contribute to increased teaching, scholarship, and public awareness of antisemitism and its consequences. Following the controversies and leadership turnover, Harvard's fundraising totals fell 15% between 2023 and 2024, from $1.4 billion to $1.2 billion.
Sources:[1] "Harvard settles antisemitism complaints," Our Website, (August 8, 2023).[2] "Antisemitism on Canadian Campuses: A Comparative Analysis of Concordia and Waterloo Universities," Antisemitism Studies, (March 2023).[3] "International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Definition of Antisemitism," European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, (May 2016).[4] "Anti-Semitism in the United States," Anti-Defamation League, (2022).[5] "The Jewish Anti-Defamation League Advocates for the IHRA Definition of Antisemitism," The Jewish Anti-Defamation League, (April 2023).
- Ken Griffin and Bill Ackman, both prominent donors to Harvard University, have yet to comment on resuming their contributions after the university settled two antisemitism complaints.
- The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education filed a complaint against Harvard, alleging the university's failure to address antisemitism on campus, including instances of pro-Hamas promotion and harassment of Israeli and Jewish students.
- In response to the settlements, former Harvard president Lawrence Bacow expressed confidence that the agreements will lead to increased teaching, scholarship, and public awareness of antisemitism and its consequences.
- Donations to Harvard dropped 15% between 2023 and 2024, following the controversies and events surrounding antisemitism on campus and leadership turnover.
- The settlement agreements require Harvard to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism, which includes claims that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor, as part of its anti-discrimination policies.
