Harvard settles antisemitism lawsuits
Harvard University agreed to use a broader definition of antisemitism in its nondiscrimination policies and will hire an administrator to consult on all complaints of antisemitism, under settlement agreements announced Tuesday.
The Brandeis Center and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education sued Harvard in May, accusing the university of not addressing antisemitic harassment and failing to follow the federal civil rights laws. The settlement included unspecified monetary terms, according to a news release, but Harvard didn’t admit to any wrongdoing.
Harvard also announced Tuesday that it reached a similar settlement agreement with Students Against Antisemitism, which sued the university in January 2024.
“Today’s settlement reflects Harvard’s enduring commitment to ensuring our Jewish students, faculty, and staff are embraced, respected, and supported,” a Harvard spokesperson said in a statement. “We will continue to strengthen our policies, systems, and operations to combat antisemitism and all forms of hate and ensure all members of the Harvard community have the support they need to pursue their academic, research and professional work and feel they belong on our campus and in our classrooms.”
The agreement requires Harvard to take several steps, including releasing a public report annually for the next five years detailing its response to complaints of antisemitic discrimination or harassment.
Harvard will also partner with a university in Israel and allow the Brandeis Center to host events on campus.
“When fully and faithfully implemented, this agreement will help ensure that Jewish students are able to learn and thrive in an environment free from anti-Semitic hate, discrimination, and harassment,” said Kenneth L. Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center, in a statement.
When Harvard receives a complaint alleging antisemitic harassment or discrimination, the university will now use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism when evaluating the claim. The IHRA defines antisemitism in part as “a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews.”
Harvard will also have to release a frequently asked questions document related to its Non-Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Policies to clearly state that Jewish students and Israeli identity are covered by the policies.
Additionally, the settlement agreement stipulates that the document must say that “conduct that would violate the Non-Discrimination Policy if targeting Jewish or Israeli people can also violate the policy if directed toward Zionists,” according to the release. “Examples of such conduct include excluding Zionists from an open event, calling for the death of Zionists, applying a ‘no Zionist’ litmus test for participation in any Harvard activity, using or disseminating tropes, stereotypes, and conspiracies about Zionists (e.g., ‘Zionists control the media’), or demanding a person who is or is perceived to be Jewish or Israeli to state a position on Israel or Zionism to harass or discriminate.”
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