A lawsuit accusing Harvard University of allowing an antisemitic environment to flourish on its campus will move forward, according to a decision by District Judge Richard Stearns. Announced on a Tuesday, the ruling comes in the wake of allegations stemming from Harvard’s response to campus events following a Hamas attack against Israel on October 7, which plaintiffs claim led to harassment of Jewish students.
Though Judge Stearns has yet to make a judgment on the allegations’ substance, he acknowledged that the plaintiffs’ accounts suggest a hostile atmosphere toward Jewish community members at the university.
“The protests occasionally turned confrontational and even physically violent, leading to legitimate concerns among plaintiffs about future incidents. This harassment marred the campus experience for these students, leading to instances where they avoided campus areas, missed classes, and withdrew from extracurricular activities,” stated Judge Stearns, citing the impact on students’ lives.
He raised doubts about Harvard’s defense that its actions were in protection of free speech, hinting that relying solely on the First Amendment might not exempt the institution from its responsibilities under Title VI.
Harvard’s defense that it balanced free speech with its obligations under Title VI is yet to be scrutinized fully, as Stearns pointed out the need for a more substantial record to evaluate Harvard’s claim of upholding free speech in this context.
In response, Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton remarked, “While the Court dismissed the claim that Harvard engaged in direct discrimination, it remains premature to resolve other claims at this stage,” expressing confidence that further revelations will demonstrate Harvard’s equitable conduct and concern for its Jewish and Israeli students.
This lawsuit emerges in a broader context of criticism towards Harvard, starting with reactions to a terror attack last October, escalating to a public statement from 30 student groups that blamed Israel, and leading to the resignation of the university’s president earlier in the year amid accusations of antisemitism on campus.
Furthermore, the Antisemitism Advisory Group’s recommendations for addressing campus antisemitism, reportedly unheeded by Harvard according to the House Education and the Workforce Committee, underscore the ongoing scrutiny facing the university.
