Harvard is “in violent violation” of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, the federal government’s Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism said Monday in a letter threatening to cut all the university’s federal funding if changes aren’t made.
The task force, which was formed this year under an executive order by President Donald Trump, wrote that the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health and Human Services had concluded a Title VI investigation into antisemitism at Harvard.
Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin.
The letter outlined several violations the school had allegedly committed, including: A majority of Jewish students reported experiencing negative bias or discrimination on campus, a quarter felt physically unsafe, Jewish and Israeli students were assaulted and spat on, and the campus was vandalized with antisemitic stickers.
The letter also highlighted campus protests in the wake of the Israel-Palestinian war, noting that some demonstrators called “for genocide and murder, and denied Jewish and Israeli students access to campus spaces.”
The letter accused Harvard of inaction, failing to defend all groups on campus equally, and of conforming to “racial hierarchies.”
The government warned that if changes aren’t made, all federal funding will be cut.
“Failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources and continue to affect Harvard’s relationship with the federal government,” the letter said.
The government noted, “Harvard may of course continue to operate free of federal privileges, and perhaps such an opportunity will spur a commitment to excellence that will help Harvard thrive once again.”
Harvard said Monday that it “strongly disagrees with the government’s findings.”
“Antisemitism is a serious problem, and no matter the context, it is unacceptable. Harvard has taken substantive, proactive steps to address the root causes of antisemitism in its community,” a university spokesperson said in a letter.
Harvard said in response to the government’s probe that it had shared its report on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias and outlined ways it has “strengthened policies, disciplined those who violate them, encouraged civil discourse, and promoted open, respectful dialogue.”
“Harvard is far from indifferent on this issue,” the school said. “Harvard has made significant strides to combat bigotry, hate and bias. We are not alone in confronting this challenge and recognize that this work is ongoing. We remain committed to ensuring members of our Jewish and Israeli community are embraced, respected, and can thrive at Harvard.”
In June 2024, Harvard’s president announced the school would implement initiatives to combat antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias on campus. Those efforts included updating campus-use rules, standardizing investigations and discipline processes, creating programs to facilitate constructive dialogue and viewpoint diversity, expanding kosher dining options, and offering workshops to incorporate antisemitism training into educational sessions.
Reprinted from NBC News
