Harvard Confirms Antisemitism and Islamophobia on Campus
- HAI Report: Harvard’s internal reviews on April 29 reveal serious concerns. Evidence of antisemitism and Islamophobia was found across the campus.
- One report stated that nearly half of Muslim students and staff feel unsafe. The findings came after the October 2023 Israel-Hamas war.
- Another report revealed that Jewish students had hidden their identities. Some even left school to avoid harassment.
President Garber Responds to Findings
- Alan Garber, Harvard’s president, said the school won’t tolerate hate. “Harvard cannot – and will not – abide bigotry,” Garber stated.
- He acknowledged Harvard had failed at times. “I am sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set,” he added.
Trump Administration Freezes Funding
- The reports followed action from the Trump administration. HAI Report: On April 14, the government froze billions in federal funding for Harvard.
- The administration demanded changes to Harvard’s hiring, admissions, and curriculum. Garber said the demands aimed to control Harvard’s intellectual freedoms.
- He warned: “No government should dictate what private universities can teach or whom they can hire.”
Muslim Students Say They Feel “Silenced”
- A survey of over 2,200 students and staff was included in the report. Half of Muslim respondents said they felt physically unsafe.
- More than 90% feared punishment for expressing opinions. The report said Muslim and Palestinian students feel “abandoned and silenced.”
Jewish Students Withdraw from Campus Life
- The second report focused on antisemitism. It documented “deplorable” incidents and noted that many Jewish students had withdrawn from campus activities.
- Some students faced an anti-Zionist culture in classes. Others saw faculty cancel courses to support pro-Palestinian protests.
- About 75% of Jewish students said they were uncomfortable sharing political views.
External Harassment Makes Things Worse
- Outside threats also worsened the situation. Doxxing trucks displayed faces of pro-Palestinian students, leading to threats of violence.
- These issues, Harvard said, point to larger problems across higher education.
Source: USA Today
