Harvard settles lawsuit by former student claiming anti-Semitism
People gather around the John Harvard Statue on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachussetts. PHOTO: AFP
MASSACHUSSETTS – Harvard University settled a lawsuit by a former divinity student who claims that Jewish students face widespread anti-Semitism on campus and who supports President Donald Trump's efforts to force change at US schools.
Mr Alexander Shabbos Kestenbaum and Harvard resolved his case on May 16 in federal court in Boston, where his January 2024 lawsuit claimed the university 'has become a bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment.' A judge had agreed that the suit could proceed, and Mr Kestenbaum was vocal in his criticism of Harvard while campaigning for Mr Trump.
'Harvard and Mr Kestenbaum acknowledge each other's steadfast and important efforts to combat antisemitism at Harvard and elsewhere' and 'are pleased to have resolved the litigation,' the university said in a statement. The terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.
The resolution comes as the nation's oldest and richest US university faces the Trump administration's termination of more than US$2.6 billion (S$3.38 billion) in funding over its handling of anti-Semitism. Harvard has sued the US, defending its right to control academic and campus policies, but agrees with the White House that reforms are needed. In April, it released long-awaited reports on anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim bias, with President Alan Garber apologising for the conditions.
In a post on X on May 14, Mr Kestenbaum said his lawsuit drew attention to anti-Semitism on college campuses, which spiked after Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023 and Israel went to war with the group in Gaza.
'By filing our lawsuit, Harvard began efforts to reform, and with President Trump's efforts it will continue to face a stark choice – enforce its policies and uphold its federal obligations or lose out on taxpayer funding and continue to destroy the university's reputation,' Mr Kestenbaum wrote. 'That choice should be an easy one to make.'
In January, Harvard settled litigation with a group known as Students Against Anti-Semitism. Mr Kestenbaum declined to join that settlement, choosing new lawyers to press on with his case.
That group's lawyer, Mr Marc Kasowitz, said at the time that the resolution 'includes specific, meaningful actions to combat anti-Semitism, hate and bias on college campuses that illustrate the university's strong commitment to further protecting their Jewish and Israeli community.'
Harvard also settled litigation with the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education. Brandeis Center founder Kenneth Marcus said the university had 'agreed to take numerous important steps necessary to creating a welcoming environment for Jewish students'. BLOOMBERG
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