Harvard University settled two major antisemitism lawsuits Tuesday, just one day after Donald Trump's inauguration. The settlement marks a significant concession from America's oldest university, which had initially fought to dismiss both cases.
The legal battle erupted from two fronts earlier this year. First came a lawsuit from Students Against Antisemitism (SAA), whose six Harvard students painted a troubling picture of "severe and pervasive antisemitism" going unchecked on campus. Then in May, following Hamas' October 7 attack, the Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law stepped in with additional legal pressure, accusing Harvard of deliberately dragging its feet in responding to the crisis.
The catalyst for the Brandeis Center's lawsuit was a series of heated campus incidents, including a viral confrontation between an Israeli Harvard Business School student and pro-Palestine demonstrators during a "die-in" protest, as well as allegations of antisemitism against a Kennedy School lecturer.
Under the settlement's terms, Harvard has agreed to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Association's definition of antisemitism – a move that could significantly restrict certain criticisms of Israel on campus. The university will also establish a partnership with an Israeli university and create a dedicated position to oversee antisemitism complaints.
But not everyone is ready to close this chapter. Shabbos Kestenbaum, a recent Harvard Divinity School graduate and lead plaintiff who spoke at the Republican National Convention, has broken ranks with fellow plaintiffs, refusing to join the settlement and vowing to pursue further legal action.
The timing of Harvard's decision appears strategic, coming amid a wave of similar settlements at major institutions including Brown University and the UC system. With Trump's administration promising harsh crackdowns on universities accused of tolerating antisemitism, and House Republicans releasing a damning report on campus antisemitism in December, Harvard's move suggests universities are scrambling to address these issues on their own terms before facing potential federal intervention.
The settlement requires Harvard to track and report Title VI complaints for the next five years, signaling a new era of transparency in how the prestigious institution handles allegations of discrimination against Jewish and Israeli students on campus.
The Harvard Crimson contributed to this article.
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