University investigation into campus antisemitism at Harvard allegedly inadequate, report suggests
Spillin' the Beans on Harvard's Antisemitism Shenanigans
Got a scoop for ya! The Republican-controlled House Committee on Education and the Workforce dropped a report yesterday, claiming that Harvard University brushed off suggestions from an antisemitism watchdog group. Sounds fishy, right?
After Hamas's October attack on Israel, Harvard set up an eight-member antisemitism advisory group (AAG), apparently under pressure due to concerns over their response to rising antisemitism on campus. But alas, the guardians of Harvard's ivory towers apparently snubbed the AAG's recommendations to tackle the issue head-on.
According to a post on social media platform X, the report reveals that Harvard bigwigs straight-up ignored the recommendations from the AAG, composed of Harvard faculty, alumni, and a student rep. The AAG shared evidence of antisemitic harassment being a significant problem at the school, based on students' accounts and a list of incidents filed by students and parents. There were stories of students getting spat on, chased by faculty, and a general lack of efforts to create a friendly learning environment.
Interestingly, this report comes a day after a House Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing addressing allegations of antisemitism on US college campuses, with one of the students who testified being a grad student at Harvard.
The AAG also offered some solid strategies to combat antisemitism, like a zero-tolerance policy for classroom disruptions, safeguarding shared learning spaces, making student groups toe the line with university rules, and nipping antisemitic speech in the bud. They even recommended reviewing Harvard's Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging's (OEDIB) shortcomings and investigating any underhanded influences of "dark money from Iran and Qatar."
The report spills the beans on alleged inactivity from Harvard leadership following incidents of antisemitism. The AAG's recommendations were forgotten despite Harvard's then-provost and current interim president, Alan Garber, reportedly attending all AAG meetings, the report suggests. The committee's report states that a majority of the AAG members threatened to quit over Harvard's lax response to antisemitism and a fuzzy understanding of the AAG's responsibilities.
Virginia Foxx, chairwoman of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, wasn't holding back: "[Former President Gay and Harvard's leadership] propped up the university's Antisemitism Advisory Group for show."
It's not just Harvard under the microscope, though. Over the past month, universities have been under the gun for failing to ensure safety for Jewish, Muslim, and Arab students. Earlier this month, Columbia University and Emory College faced federal investigations for potential anti-Muslim discrimination on campus, according to MEE reports. Pro-Palestine student-led protests have been popping up on US campuses, with at least 90 Gaza solidarity encampments springing up demanding university administrations to cut ties with companies backing Israel's actions in Gaza.
The Columbia University protest camp faced a rough ending, with students being arrested and suspended, but the Harvard University protest peacefully wrapped up yesterday, with the university agreeing to meet students and consider lifting involuntary leaves they imposed on some. So, what will Harvard do? Time will tell. Stay tuned!
- The report, released by the Republican-controlled House Committee on Education and the Workforce, alleges that Harvard University disregarded suggestions from an antisemitism watchdog group.
- After the October attack on Israel by Hamas, Harvard established an eight-member antisemitism advisory group, yet they seemingly neglected the group's recommendations to effectively address rising antisemitism on campus.
- The report, shared on social media platform X, claims that Harvard's top-brass disregarded the recommendations from the antisemitism advisory group, which included evidence of antisemitic harassment being a significant issue at the university, based on students' accounts and a list of incidents.
- The allegations of Harvard's inactivity in addressing antisemitism come after a House Judiciary Subcommittee held a hearing over antisemitism allegations on US college campuses, with one of the students who testified being a grad student at Harvard.
- In addition to addressing antisemitism, the AAG also recommended reviewing Harvard's Office for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging's shortcomings, investigating any hidden influences of "dark money from Iran and Qatar," and implementing a zero-tolerance policy for antisemitic speech on campuses nationwide.
