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Harvard Settles Title VI Antisemitism Lawsuits for Undisclosed Amount, Adopts IHRA Definition and Establishes Israel Partnership

Jan 21, 2025, 07:20 PM

Harvard University has settled two Title VI lawsuits accusing the institution of mishandling antisemitism on campus for an undisclosed amount. The settlements were reached just one day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, amid his campaign promises to address antisemitism at universities. As part of the agreements, Harvard will adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which includes examples that equate certain criticisms of Israel with antisemitism. The university will also clarify that its non-discrimination policies protect Jewish and Israeli students. Additionally, Harvard will establish an official partnership with a university in Israel, invest in academic resources to study antisemitism, and compile annual reports on Title VI complaints for the next five years. The settlements, which do not admit wrongdoing or liability, come in response to allegations by Students Against Antisemitism, the Brandeis Center, and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education of the university's inadequate response to antisemitic harassment and protests related to the Israel-Hamas war that escalated following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel.