Harvard University will provide additional protections to Jewish and Israeli students as part of two legal settlements that accused the Ivy League school of creating an environment of fear and hate by allowing antisemitism to run rampant on campus after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
The Massachusetts school has agreed to add the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition of antisemitism into its non-discrimination and anti-bullying policies and provide training to faculty and staff members to combat antisemitism, the university announced Tuesday.
Harvard will also release annual reports over the next five years detailing its response to alleged civil rights complaints, invest in additional academic resources to study antisemitism, partner with a university in Israel and provide examples of prohibited anti-Zionist conduct on its website.
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“We are committed to ensuring our Jewish community is embraced, respected, and can thrive at Harvard,” a university 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 Ivy League also agreed to pay an undisclosed amount but didn’t admit to any wrongdoing or liability.
The settlements resolved Title VI civil rights lawsuits brought about last year by the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and Jewish students groups Students Against Antisemitism and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education.
The lawsuits came after Harvard faced fierce criticism over its handling of anti-Israel protests that erupted on campus amid the Israel-Hamas war. Jewish students alleged they were bullied, spat on, intimidated, threatened and subjected to verbal and physical harassment.
The backlash led to then-University president Claudine Gay’s resignation in January 2024 over her alleged inaction regarding antisemitism on campus and her failure to condemn over 30 Harvard student groups that published a letter blaming Israel for Hamas’ deadly attack.
“With this settlement, Harvard is demonstrating leadership in the fight against antisemitism and in upholding the rights of Jewish students,” a spokesperson for Students Against Antisemitism said.
“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.”
Marc Kasowitz, counsel for Students Against Antisemitism, boasted the settlement for including “specific” and “meaningful” actions that demonstrate Harvard’s commitment to protecting their Jewish and Israeli community.
“I commend them for taking these steps and encourage others to follow their lead,” he said.
Harvard is among about a dozen colleges and universities across the country accused in lawsuits of violating federal or state law by failing to protect its Jewish students.