Amidst its legal challenge over critical federal funding, Harvard University has released two long-awaited internal reports from its task forces: one addressing how antisemitism and anti-Israel bias are handled on campus, and the other focusing on anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian bias. Harvard President Alan Garber announced these reports in a letter to the university community, beginning with an apology for the “disappointing and painful” 2023-24 academic year.
The reports, released on Tuesday afternoon, detailed accounts from both Jewish and Muslim students grappling with grief over losses in Gaza and Israel, alongside feelings of insecurity, alienation, and academic censorship on campus. They include several broad recommendations and policy changes for Harvard’s programs, admissions, and academic offerings. Garber noted that some students felt marginalized due to their identity or beliefs, harming the sense of community.
The release of these reports occurs during an ongoing conflict between Harvard and the White House, following the federal government’s Joint Task Force to Combat Antisemitism freezing over $2 billion in federal funding to the university earlier this month. Harvard subsequently sued the Trump administration over this funding freeze. Both Jewish and Muslim students reported experiencing discomfort and alienation on campus. Each task force conducted listening sessions and a university-wide survey in 2024, revealing that Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and Israeli students often felt uncomfortable and alienated both before and after the October 7th attacks on Israel.
