Former Harvard University president Larry Summers recently expressed his concerns about the treatment of Jewish students at Harvard. According to Summers, Harvard is creating a hostile environment for Jewish students, which violates federal civil rights laws.
The issue stems from anti-Israel protests at Harvard that have included disruptions near student dormitories and antisemitic chants. These protests have caused many Jewish students to fear for their safety and struggle to focus on their studies.
Summers took to social media to echo the sentiments of Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), who believes that Harvard is violating the Civil Rights Act by allowing a pro-Palestinian encampment to occupy Harvard Yard. This encampment has been chanting radical antisemitic slogans and disrupting the academic environment.
Although Summers is no longer the president of Harvard, he remains a professor at the school. The situation has gained attention from media outlets like the Boston Herald, which reported on Auchincloss’s visit to Harvard and the concerns raised by Jewish and Israeli students.
In 2019, the Trump administration extended federal civil rights protections to Jewish students on campus, recognizing them as a racial group or nationality in addition to a religious group. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has been investigating Harvard and other universities for potential discrimination, but there has been silence from top officials like Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division head Kristen Clarke.
Despite ongoing investigations and concerns, the issue of antisemitism on college campuses, particularly related to anti-Israel protests, continues to be a pressing concern for the safety and well-being of Jewish students.
