After controversy with pro-Palestine students, Harvard announces a council to "eradicate anti-Semitism" on campus
University President Claudine Gay acknowledged that the institution had done "very little to address their continued presence" on campus.
Harvard (Wikimedia Commons)
After a significant donor left Harvard University over its response to Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the educational institution decided to create an advisory council to "eradicate anti-Semitism" on campus. This was announced by Claudine Gay, president of the fourth-best university in the world, according to the annual QS ranking. According to the Harvard President, "anti-Semitism has a very long and shameful history at Harvard."
Gay spoke about it at the Harvard Hillel Shabbat dinner, where she stated that "we are witnessing a surge in anti-Jewish incidents and rhetoric across the nation - and on our own campus," where she said she had heard "story after story" of "Jewish students feeling increasingly uncomfortable or even threatened."
"As president, I am committed to confronting this pernicious hatred with the urgency it demands. Anti-Semitism has a very long and shameful history at Harvard. For years, this University has done very little to confront its continued presence. Let's not do it anymore," she added.
Gay, therefore, pledged to lead the work to "eradicate anti-Semitism from our community," to which end he will work with this group of advisors over the coming weeks to "develop an agenda and strategy to combat anti-Semitism at Harvard."
The university was at the center of the storm when 34 student organizations signed a statement issued by the Harvard Palestinian Solidarity Groups, which began by blaming the "Israeli regime" for "all the violence that unfolded" after October 7. As a result, a major law firm withdrew job offers to students who were part of the aforementioned organizations. Additionally, Larry Hogan, the former Republican governor of Maryland, withdrew his offer to participate in Harvard's scholarship programs.
After initial criticism, Harvard indicated that it would not "punish or sanction" people for expressing their opinions, although that did not mean it endorsed them.
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