Harvard Releases Reports on Anti-Semitic, Anti-Muslim Biases on Campus, Pledges Reforms

The reports recommend reforms across academics, student life, and campus policies following tensions on campus after the start of the Israel–Hamas war in 2023.

Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on Dec. 12, 2023. Brian Snyder/Reuters

Harvard University released two reports on April 29 detailing findings from its presidential task forces formed to address anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim bias, and tensions surrounding the Israel-Hamas war.

The reports—commissioned after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attack on Israel and subsequent campus protests—found that Jewish, Israeli, Zionist, Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and pro-Palestinian students all reported feeling marginalized or targeted over their identities and views. Some Jewish students said they hid religious symbols or avoided speaking Hebrew in public, while Muslim and Palestinian students said they felt judged, misrepresented, and unsupported.

“Especially disturbing is the reported willingness of some students to treat each other with disdain rather than sympathy, eager to criticize and ostracize, particularly when afforded the anonymity and distance that social media provides,” Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a letter to the campus community. “Some students reported being pushed by their peers to the periphery of campus life because of who they are or what they believe, eroding our shared sense of community in the process.”

He pledged that the university “cannot—and will not—abide bigotry” and would work to safeguard free expression while protecting students from harassment.

The task forces issued separate reports with tailored recommendations. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights had previously demanded that Harvard turn over the reports by May 2.

The 311-page report by the Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Israeli Bias urged Harvard to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of anti-Semitism, expand Jewish and Israel-related academic programming, standardize incident reporting, and provide new training for students and faculty.

The 222-page Task Force on Combating Anti-Muslim, Anti-Arab, and Anti-Palestinian Bias report recommended defining Islamophobia and related biases in university policies, expanding Palestinian studies, offering better mental health services for affected students, and establishing protections against doxxing and harassment. Both groups emphasized the need for clearer disciplinary processes and stronger free-speech protections.

The reports recommended a wide range of actions, including improving disciplinary processes for harassment, expanding dialogue initiatives, providing better support services, and strengthening policies around protests. Harvard said it has already begun implementing some changes, including clarifying campus protest rules and updating training programs.

Garber said the university’s deans will submit action plans by the end of the current term, covering admissions, curriculum, residential life, and campus events. Harvard also plans to launch a research project on anti-Semitism and a historical analysis of Muslims, Arabs, and Palestinians at the university. In addition, the school announced a forthcoming university-wide initiative to promote viewpoint diversity.

Harvard’s release of the task force reports comes as the university faces broader scrutiny. The school is under federal investigation for alleged racial discrimination tied to its law review’s article selection process and is suing the Trump administration to unfreeze $2.2 billion in federal research funding.

The administration froze Harvard’s funding earlier this year after accusing the university of failing to address campus anti-Semitism and continuing to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, which officials said violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

Harvard has denied wrongdoing and argues the funding freeze infringes on its free-speech rights. The university is also one of about 60 colleges and universities being investigated for allegations of anti-Semitic discrimination. Former President Claudine Gay resigned in January after facing congressional questioning over Harvard’s response to campus anti-Semitism.

Garber added that the university’s work to strengthen dialogue and community would continue through the summer and into the next academic year.

“May our successors, whether they are Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, or of any combination of backgrounds and perspectives, find Harvard to be a place where they can be themselves, express their views freely, and encounter sympathy and understanding—a place where all are cheered on as they pursue their dreams,” he wrote.

Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.