Harvard’s anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim process forces finding partial climate

Harvard’s task forces on anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim bias found a pattern of discrimination and harassment on campus, writing in a preliminary report Wednesday that the situation of pro-Israel scholars was “dire” and that of pro-Palestinian scholars was worsening. hushed up.

The Anti-Semitism Task Force cited reports of students discriminating against or harassing students because they were Israeli or pro-Israel. It says there was once an ideological “litmus test” for extracurricular activities, making it impossible for some students to participate.

The duty force called for a variety of measures to increase the length of the year for Jewish scholars on campus, including anti-harassment training for all scholars, discussion of anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias, and restrictions on individuals practicing Jewish holidays. Accommodation is included.

On the other hand, an investigation into anti-Muslim and anti-Arab bias on campus revealed that the freedom of voice of Palestinian and pro-Palestinian scholars has been largely suppressed, leaving them “in a state of uncertainty, abandonment, danger, and isolation.” ” “And” in a widespread climate of intolerance. The Record states that many scholars felt that the words “Palestine” and “Palestinian” had become taboo on campus.

Among alternative suggestions, the duty power recommended the university appoint a visiting tutor in Palestinian research, and ultimately, retain tenure-track college participants to broaden the university’s curriculum matching Palestinian research. It also recommended that the university clarify policies around bullying and favoritism.

Early reviews then come of the future of college in which issues regarding anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have increased at Harvard and alternative universities. Ultimately, Stanford discounted the reviews from its own task forces, which found persistent suppression of anti-Semitism and pro-Palestinian rhetoric on its campus.

Republican lawmakers and donors were particularly vocal in pressuring Harvard to address anti-Semitism following the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.

Such power, in addition to a dramatic grilling from the Republican-led Space Committee and a team of workers over training in December, contributed to the escape of Harvard President Claudine Homo, who then gave opaque, legal solutions to whether any decisions should be made. Campus pogroms can be considered anti-Semitism.

In a scathing letter in May, committee chair Virginia Foxx accused Harvard of ignoring the suggestions of an advisory committee on anti-Semitism (which was soon disbanded and replaced by the duty power). Harvard said Dr. Fox was cherry-picking evidence to reach wrong conclusions.

Anti-Palestinian protests and encampments have gripped campuses including Harvard, putting universities in an awkward position as they struggle to maintain free speech rights and campus protections.

Jewish groups have said that incidents of anti-Semitism were rampant during those protests, while Muslim groups have asserted that their free speech was suppressed when universities banned demonstrations.

The record of Harvard’s anti-Semitism task force does not reflect much on specific incidents. However, Shabbos Kestenbaum, a student at Harvard Divinity College, testified at a Society Space hearing in February that his classmates posted on an anonymous social media app that “there are a lot of Jews living in this country. “

Mr. Kestenbaum, who graduated this spring and has accused the university in a lawsuit of being a “bastion” of hatred of Jews, said Wednesday that the record of anti-Semitism was not too difficult to spot.

“The biggest policy change is that ‘pork products must be clearly marked,'” he said in relation to the advice that Harvard lend extra hot kosher foods and prescribe dishes with red meat in dining halls. Does.

The record on Islamophobia was also quite common, but scholars wearing hijab or kaffiyeh were called “terrorists”.

It also discussed pro-Palestinian scholars being deceived, meaning their private knowledge was tainted. In one such example, the names and faces of students associated with organizations that had signed a letter holding Israel responsible for the October 7 attacks were displayed on trucks that drove around the campus, which was criticized for accuracy in the media. were operated by an outside conservative group called.

The task force demanded more dedicated spaces for worship and communal gatherings, greater popularity of Muslim holidays, and religious education throughout the orientation. “Religious illiteracy needs to be addressed as it is a significant factor contributing to stereotypes and prejudices,” the record states.

The report also recommends the college make additional efforts to “protect academic freedom and institutional independence” in its fund-raising practices.

In an electronic mail releasing the report, Harvard’s then-president Alan Garber advised his campus to “interact with each other with tact, decency, and compassion.” He further said, “Our education cannot be limited to academic activities alone if we hope to fulfill our responsibilities to each other and to the institution that is our intellectual home.”