Harvard University settled two civil rights lawsuits over campus antisemitism on Tuesday, agreeing to boost protections for Jewish and Israeli students who have experienced a vitriolic campus environment since Hamas’s October 7 attack.
Harvard and Students Against Antisemitism closed the ongoing Title VI cases as part of the agreement, which primarily incorporates the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism into the university’s non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies. Crucially, that definition includes holding Israel to a standard not demanded of any other nation, which would arguably cover many of the “anti-Zionist” demonstrations seen on college campuses in recent years.
The Ivy League school will also provide expert training to faculty and staff on combating antisemitism.
“We are committed to ensuring our Jewish community is embraced, respected, and can thrive at Harvard,” a Harvard spokesperson said. “We are resolute in our efforts to confront antisemitism and will continue to implement robust steps to maintain a welcoming, open, and safe campus environment where every student feels a sense of belonging. Today’s settlement reflects our dedication to this mission.”
The Massachusetts university agreed to pay an undisclosed amount to the plaintiffs, but it did not admit to any wrongdoing or liability.
Since October 2023, Harvard has been one of many elite educational institutions in the U.S. to see a rapid surge in antisemitism during the war in Gaza. It was also the site of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was taken down by the organizers by the end of the 2024 spring semester.
Harvard will take action on additional measures as part of the settlements, including posting online examples of prohibited antisemitic content and conducting an annual report for the next five years that details the university’s response to discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics under Title VI.
Furthermore, the school will host an annual academic symposium on antisemitism and reaffirm every year that its leadership will not tolerate antisemitism or any other form of hatred.
The settlements came one day after President Donald Trump took office. In October, Trump vowed to “remove the jihadist sympathizers and Jew haters” across the country if he was reelected. He also appeared poised to crack down on anti-Israel campus protests should they arise again like they did last spring.
Trump’s nominee for U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Representative Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.), has been vocal about campus antisemitism since October 7 while serving on the House Education and Workforce Committee. She famously questioned three Ivy League presidents in December 2023 about their failure to condemn antisemitism and vitriolic rhetoric against Israel and Jews on campus.
The contentious testimony led to the resignations of Harvard’s Claudine Gay and the University of Pennsylvania’s Liz Magill. The third witness, Massachusetts Institute of Technology president Sally Kornbluth, remains in her position.
Gay’s successor, Alan Garber, has taken steps to address antisemitism on campus. Last month, he said Harvard should condemn antisemitic speech in accordance with the university’s institutional voice policy.
“We would strongly discourage certain kinds of speech, particularly if a reasonable person might feel that the language is antisemitic or racist or comprises other kinds of hate,” Garber told the Harvard Crimson. “I do believe that we need to continue to condemn the use of speech that is widely viewed as antisemitic or as hate speech in other forms, even if not everybody agrees.”
Without issuing a statement every time an antisemitic allegation surfaces, he said Harvard needs to “determine whether an incident is antisemitic” or not.
Tuesday’s settlements resolve litigation brought by Students Against Antisemitism, the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education.
“With this settlement, Harvard is demonstrating leadership in the fight against antisemitism and in upholding the rights of Jewish students,” said Marc Kasowitz, a lawyer for Students Against Antisemitism. “We appreciate Harvard’s proactive approach to implementing effective long-term changes and its strong commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for every student who pursues their education on Harvard’s campus.”