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One Day After Trump Takes Office, Harvard Settles Two Antisemitism Lawsuits
One Day After Trump Takes Office, Harvard Settles Two Antisemitism Lawsuits
Harvard reached a settlement in two ongoing Title VI lawsuits accusing the university of mishandling antisemitism on campus for an undisclosed amount on Tuesday.
By Dhruv T. Patel and Grace E. Yoon
Harvard settled two ongoing Title VI lawsuits accusing the university of mishandling antisemitism on campus for an undisclosed amount on Tuesday. By Joey Huang
Updated January 21, 2025 at 10:05 p.m.
Harvard settled two Title VI lawsuits accusing the University of tolerating antisemitism on campus for an undisclosed amount on Tuesday, closing the proceedings just after President Donald Trump — who has promised to punish universities over antisemitism claims — took office. ... Per the settlements, Harvard will clarify that its non-discrimination policies protect Israeli and Jewish students and adopt the widely-used but controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Association definition of antisemitism.
The definition — which a group of pro-Israel affiliates urged Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 to adopt in a May letter — classifies certain criticisms of Israel as antisemitic. The definition could allow Harvard to crack down on pro-Palestine student protesters who have condemned Israel’s war in Gaza and policies toward Palestinians, often in harsh terms. ... Harvard explicitly stated it will adopt the definition’s “accompanying examples,” which state that it is antisemitic to describe Israel’s existence as a “racist endeavor” or compare its contemporary policies to those of the Nazis.
The settlements apply to litigation efforts from Students Against Antisemitism, a group of six Harvard students, and the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education. ... At least two students in the SAA lawsuit refused to agree to the settlement. Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum, SAA’s lead plaintiff and a vocal public critic of Harvard, rejected a last-minute attempt by Harvard’s lawyers to persuade him on Monday. Kestenbaum will pursue additional litigation under new counsel.
Kestenbaum wrote in a statement that he plans to take Harvard to trial and depose top administrators including Garber, former Harvard President Claudine Gay, and Harvard Divinity School Dean Marla F. Frederick. ... In August, a judge ruled that Kestenbaum may seek damages but “lacks standing to pursue proper injunctive relief” because he is no longer enrolled at Harvard.
{snip}
Harvard reached a settlement in two ongoing Title VI lawsuits accusing the university of mishandling antisemitism on campus for an undisclosed amount on Tuesday.
By Dhruv T. Patel and Grace E. Yoon
Harvard settled two ongoing Title VI lawsuits accusing the university of mishandling antisemitism on campus for an undisclosed amount on Tuesday. By Joey Huang
Updated January 21, 2025 at 10:05 p.m.
Harvard settled two Title VI lawsuits accusing the University of tolerating antisemitism on campus for an undisclosed amount on Tuesday, closing the proceedings just after President Donald Trump — who has promised to punish universities over antisemitism claims — took office. ... Per the settlements, Harvard will clarify that its non-discrimination policies protect Israeli and Jewish students and adopt the widely-used but controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Association definition of antisemitism.
The definition — which a group of pro-Israel affiliates urged Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 to adopt in a May letter — classifies certain criticisms of Israel as antisemitic. The definition could allow Harvard to crack down on pro-Palestine student protesters who have condemned Israel’s war in Gaza and policies toward Palestinians, often in harsh terms. ... Harvard explicitly stated it will adopt the definition’s “accompanying examples,” which state that it is antisemitic to describe Israel’s existence as a “racist endeavor” or compare its contemporary policies to those of the Nazis.
The settlements apply to litigation efforts from Students Against Antisemitism, a group of six Harvard students, and the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education. ... At least two students in the SAA lawsuit refused to agree to the settlement. Alexander “Shabbos” Kestenbaum, SAA’s lead plaintiff and a vocal public critic of Harvard, rejected a last-minute attempt by Harvard’s lawyers to persuade him on Monday. Kestenbaum will pursue additional litigation under new counsel.
Kestenbaum wrote in a statement that he plans to take Harvard to trial and depose top administrators including Garber, former Harvard President Claudine Gay, and Harvard Divinity School Dean Marla F. Frederick. ... In August, a judge ruled that Kestenbaum may seek damages but “lacks standing to pursue proper injunctive relief” because he is no longer enrolled at Harvard.
{snip}