The Trump administration says that Harvard University violated civil-rights laws over its treatment of Israeli and Jewish students, potentially further endangering its federal funding. In a letter sent to Harvard, the administration accused the university of deliberate indifference towards the concerns of Jewish students who felt threatened on campus. The move is the latest in a series of legal and financial battles between Harvard and the White House - the stakes of which have dramatically escalated over the last few months. The letter - viewed by the BBC - says that "failure to institute adequate changes immediately will result in the loss of all federal financial resources" for Harvard. "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," says the letter addressed to Harvard University President Alan Gerber. The BBC has contacted Harvard for comment. According to the letter, federal investigators found that a "majority" of Jewish students reported discrimination or bias against them, with one quarter having felt physically threatened. Among the behaviours detailed in the letter are Jewish students being spat upon or assaulted, and images being widely circulated depicting a dollar sign in the Star of David and antisemitic stickers being distributed, including one showing an Israel flag with a swastika in place of the Star of David. "Harvard's inaction in the face of these civil rights violations is a clear example of the demographic hierarchy that has taken hold of the university," the letter adds. "Harvard's commitment to racial hierarchies—where individuals are sorted and judged according to their membership in an oppressed group identity and not individual merit—has enabled anti-Semitism to fester." The letter is what is known as a "notice of violation" that often precedes a lawsuit or a voluntary resolution if corrective measures are taken. In April, Harvard released the findings of an internal investigation which found that the university was deeply polarised by the ongoing war in Gaza, with students on both sides feeling unsafe. In a message from Mr Garber which accompanied the report, Mr Garber apologised for "moments in which we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community". The letter is the latest in a series of clashes between Harvard and the Trump administration, which has ramped up its crackdown on universities it claims have failed to tackle antisemitism amid protests against the war in Gaza. Earlier, in May, the administration directed US federal agencies to review Harvard University's grants to potentially end or redistribute funding. The administration estimated about 30 contracts, collectively worth $100m (£74m), could be reviewed. It already had frozen $2.65bn in federal grants and tried to revoke Harvard's ability to enrol international students. The Trump administration also issued Columbia University a similar notice last month accusing it of violation of civil-rights law for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students from harassment. Columbia is also negotiating with the administration over its federal funding and autonomy.
White House says Harvard violated civil rights of Jewish students
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"Trump Administration Accuses Harvard of Violating Civil Rights of Jewish Students"
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TruthLens AI Summary
The Trump administration has accused Harvard University of violating civil rights laws due to its handling of issues related to Israeli and Jewish students, which could jeopardize the institution's federal funding. In a letter addressed to Harvard President Alan Gerber, the administration expressed that the university displayed a deliberate indifference to the concerns raised by Jewish students who reported feeling threatened on campus. This accusation is part of an escalating series of legal and financial confrontations between Harvard and the White House, with significant implications for the university's financial resources. The letter warned that failure to make immediate changes could lead to the loss of all federal financial assistance. The administration suggested that Harvard could operate without federal privileges, implying that such a scenario might motivate the university to improve its commitment to excellence. The letter referenced investigations indicating that a majority of Jewish students experienced discrimination or bias, with a notable percentage feeling physically threatened, citing incidents of harassment and antisemitism on campus, including the distribution of offensive materials and imagery.
The situation at Harvard reflects broader tensions surrounding antisemitism on college campuses, particularly in light of ongoing geopolitical conflicts such as the war in Gaza. The letter characterized Harvard's inaction as indicative of a problematic demographic hierarchy that has allowed anti-Semitism to persist. It criticized the university for prioritizing racial hierarchies over individual merit, which the administration believes has contributed to the climate of fear among Jewish students. This notice of violation from the administration is a precursor to potential legal actions or negotiations for corrective measures. Earlier in the year, Harvard conducted its own internal investigation revealing a polarized atmosphere on campus, acknowledging moments where it failed to meet community standards. The Trump administration has previously taken steps against other institutions, such as Columbia University, regarding similar accusations, signaling a broader effort to address perceived failures in protecting Jewish students from harassment at universities across the country.
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