Latest news with #Kestenbaum
Straits Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
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 Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Boston Globe
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Harvard, grad who sued university over handling of antisemitism settle case
The settlement brings to a close a legal fight that made Kestenbaum a prominent Jewish voice speaking out against Harvard, which he and other students alleged in the lawsuit had 'become a bastion of rampant anti-Jewish hatred and harassment.' It came amid the conflagration on campus over protest, free speech, and antisemitism in the wake of the 2023 Hamas-led attack, and Israel's retaliatory campaign in Gaza. Kestenbaum, who graduated from the Harvard Divinity School last year, was among a cohort of six Jewish students who pursued litigation against Harvard when he sued in January of 2024. The others Advertisement But Kestenbaum persisted. Over the course of his advocacy, he gained a national profile that saw him, a self-described former progressive and registered Democrat, speak at the 2024 Republican National Convention. He believes his efforts have made institutions of higher education better for Jewish students, he said in a Friday WhatsApp message. Advertisement 'I'd like to think that our fight these last 16 months have made it clear to Harvard and the country that Jewish Americans are not 'others,'' Kestenbaum wrote to the Globe. 'We are not only Americans, but deeply proud to be so as well. This country has given us so much and we will not allow elitist institutions to corrupt President Washington's vision that bigotry will be given no sanction and persecution no assistance.' The settlement comes as the federal government has slashed billions in funding for Harvard over university leadership's refusal to follow demands from the Trump administration to give it vastly more sway over university life, purportedly to protect Jewish students. President Trump has also threatened to strip Harvard of tax-exempt status. In My statement on recent developments at Harvard: Since October 7, I have been fortunate to help lead the student effort combating antisemitism within institutions of higher learning across the country, including by suing my alma mater in one of the first post-October 7… — Shabbos Kestenbaum (@ShabbosK) Spencer Buell can be reached at
Bloomberg
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Harvard Settles Lawsuit by Former Student Claiming Antisemitism
Harvard University settled a lawsuit by a former divinity student who claims that Jewish students face widespread antisemitism on campus and who supports President Donald Trump's efforts to force change at US schools. Alexander Shabbos Kestenbaum and Harvard resolved his case Thursday 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 Kestenbaum was vocal in his criticism of Harvard while campaigning for Trump.
Epoch Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Harvard University Settles Jewish Student's Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Semitism
Harvard University agreed on Thursday to settle a lawsuit filed by a student who accused officials of ignoring alleged discrimination against Jewish students on campus, ending a 16-month legal battle. The legal challenge was brought by Alexander Kestenbaum, also known as Shabbos, and the nonprofit group Students Against Antisemitism in January 2024. Kestenbaum and Harvard jointly agreed to end the case, according to a dismissal notice filed in Boston federal court. The student's claims were dismissed with prejudice, meaning the case cannot be bought back into court. The terms of the settlement remain confidential. 'Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum acknowledge each other's steadfast and important efforts to combat antisemitism at Harvard and elsewhere,' the university said in an emailed statement to The Epoch Times. 'Harvard and Mr. Kestenbaum are pleased to have resolved the litigation.' Related Stories 5/15/2025 5/15/2025 Kestenbaum graduated from Harvard Divinity School last year, and has become a growing voice in a Republican-led campaign aimed at rooting out alleged antisemitism at major American universities. In a separate '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,' he continued. Kestenbaum said he would continue to the Trump administration in 'pursuing much-needed change' at Harvard and other colleges and universities across the country. Lawsuit Alleges 'Jewish Hatred' Rampant at Harvard Kestenbaum's lawsuit alleged Harvard had become 'a bastion of rampant anti Jewish hatred and harassment,' in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas incursion into Israel. The terrorist group killed 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages during the attack. Since then more than 52,800 Palestinians, many of them women and children, have been killed in the war in Gaza, The lawsuit cited protests on campus in support of Palestine that it alleged were antisemitic, and claimed Jewish students at the school have been attacked on social media. It further alleged that Harvard faculty members have 'promulgated antisemitism in their courses and dismissed and intimidated students who object.' The suit accused the Cambridge, Massachusetts-based school of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which It said the school should be compelled to implement 'institutional, far-reaching, and concrete remedial measures,' including terminating employees who are allegedly responsible for 'antisemitic discrimination and abuse,' and suspending students who engaged in such conduct. Harvard 'We have enhanced training and education on antisemitism across our campus and introduced measures to support our Jewish community and ensure student safety and security,' it said in a statement. 'We have launched programs to promote civil dialogue and respectful disagreement inside and outside the classroom.' The school added that it has also adopted many other reforms, and will 'continue to combat antisemitism and to foster a campus culture that includes and supports every member of our community.' Harvard Kestenbaum did not settle at the time and instead pursued his case against the school under an amended complaint, which was settled on Thursday. The Epoch Times has contacted a spokesperson for Harvard for further comment.
India Today
16-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Jewish student ends lawsuit against Harvard over alleged antisemitism
A Jewish student, Alexander Kestenbaum, who sued Harvard University for not taking action against antisemitism on campus, has officially ended his lawsuit. On Thursday, Kestenbaum and the university filed a joint stipulation of dismissal in a Boston federal court. This dismissal is 'with prejudice,' meaning Kestenbaum cannot file the same lawsuit is not clear whether the two sides reached a settlement. Lawyers for both parties did not comment. advertisementKestenbaum, also known by his Hebrew name "Shabbos," had been a part of a legal campaign by the students against antisemitism. Other such lawsuits were settled earlier this year, but Kestenbaum decided to continue his legal challenge until now. In January, Harvard pledged to improve protection for Jewish students amid escalating concerns of antisemitism on campus. The university made the promises as it dealt with lawsuits from organisations like Jewish Americans for Fairness in Education and the Brandeis Centre for Human Rights Under Law. Kestenbaum did not sign the deal at the was in his second year at Harvard Divinity School when the campus grew tense with the protests over Gaza. He gained notice almost immediately as a conservative commentator voicing opinions in the news media. He even appeared at a student roundtable in Washington, DC, to discuss the spike in antisemitism on spoke at the Republican National Convention as part of a Republican-led effort to fight antisemitism in US is one of the chief targets, and US President Donald Trump's administration has frozen or terminated more than $2.6 billion of the university's federal grants and contracts in recent Cambridge, Massachusetts-based school is suing the Trump administration over grant cutoffs, mainly in medical sciences, calling them an unconstitutional attempt to curtail academic freedom and free Ivy League school, Columbia University, is another prime White House target in its campaign against Reel
