A former Trump Education Department official who helped bring a lawsuit said he expects every other college to meet or exceed the standards that Harvard agreed to.
Recent college protests in the history of university protests
Student protests at Columbia, Yale, USC and others are the latest to see, but protesting on college campuses is nothing new in America.
Harvard University will provide additional protections for Jewish students under a settlement announced Tuesday that resolves two lawsuits accusing the Ivy League school. A hotbed of rampant antisemitism.
Harvard said it would adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, including specific examples of discrimination and harassment, when evaluating whether conduct Violates non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies.
The university will also address frequently asked questions about its policies online, report annually for five years on its enforcement efforts, and address antisemitism to staff who review complaints of discrimination. will provide training for
The Harvard settlement resolves a The case by Students Against Antisemitism, and a The case Through Jewish Americans for Justice in Education and the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and includes unspecified monetary payments. The university has not admitted wrongdoing.
The two lawsuits were among those accusing major universities of encouraging anti-Semitism after the October 2023 war between Israel and Hamas, which led to months of pro-Palestinian protests on American college campuses.
Marc Kasowitz, an advocate for Students Against Antisemitism, said in an interview that he has “very confidence” that Harvard is committed to protecting its Jewish students, including those targeted simply for supporting Israel.
“Statements about destroying the state of Israel, killing Israelis and things like that are anti-Semitic statements,” he said. “This gives us confidence that these measures will greatly protect the interests and rights of Jewish students on the Harvard campus.”
Kenneth Marks, who founded and directs the Brandeis Center, said the IHRA’s definition of antisemitism provides clear guidance to school administrators, and is consistent with President Donald Trump’s 2019 executive order on antisemitism. is to compete.
“We expect every other college to meet or exceed that standard,” Marks said in an interview.
Harvard promises a ‘welcoming’ campus.
Jewish students accused Harvard of selectively enforcing anti-discrimination policies, including tolerating them being denigrated as “murderers” and the subject of a viral “die-in” where Attendees accused Israel of war crimes.
He also accused Harvard of hiring professors who promoted anti-Semitic violence and spread anti-Semitic propaganda.
Last June, Harvard task forces found anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment on each of the Cambridge, Massachusetts campuses to be riddled with discrimination and harassment, including against Palestinians as well as people with pro-Israel views.
Both lawsuits accuse Harvard of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits recipients of federal funds from discriminating on the basis of race, religion, or national origin.
The FAQ includes a statement acknowledging that many Jews consider Zionism to be part of their identity, and that discrimination or harassment directed at Jews and Israelis may also violate Harvard policy. It is if the Zionists are pointed out.
“We are committed to ensuring that our Jewish community is accepted, respected and able to thrive at Harvard,” a university spokeswoman said in a statement.
“We are committed to our efforts to combat antisemitism and will continue to implement strong measures to maintain a welcoming, open and safe campus environment where every student feels they belong,” the spokesperson added. Feel it,” the spokesperson added.
The Trump Effect
Alexander Kestenbaum, the plaintiff in an antisemitism lawsuit against Harvard Divinity School students and alumni, has not been settled and will continue to seek damages. His new lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The settlement came after a federal judge in Boston refused to dismiss both lawsuits.
Kasowitz said Trump’s statements about how his second administration would protect the rights of Jewish students were “definitely helpful” in reaching the settlement.
Students Against Antisemitism Settled A similar lawsuit was filed against New York University last July, and Kasowitz said the group is pleased that campus life has “improved dramatically” for Jewish students there.
The group is still pursuing Title VI lawsuits against Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania, while the Brandeis Center is pursuing lawsuits against several schools. University of California, Berkeley.
Columbia and Penn declined to comment on the settlement or their litigation. UC Berkeley did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Harvard declined to comment further.
