Over 500-Page Internal Report Highlights Severe Political Polarization
President Garber Issues Public Apology: "We Will Not Tolerate Prejudice"
Harvard University in the United States has released the results of an internal investigation, stating that both antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment are widespread on campus, particularly in relation to the Israel-Palestine issue, and that political polarization is severe. This report was published amid escalating tensions, as former U.S. President Donald Trump has criticized antisemitism at Harvard and cut funding to the university.
On April 29 (local time), Yonhap News, citing sources such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), reported that "Harvard University released an internal investigation report exceeding 500 pages on antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment on campus." To investigate antisemitism and anti-Muslim sentiment within the university, Harvard formed two separate task forces to compile this report.
The report was based on interviews with more than 500 members of the university community, as well as various survey materials. In conclusion, the report found that "after the outbreak of the 2023 Israel-Hamas war, both Muslim and Jewish students felt that the Harvard campus was not a safe place." One professor commented, "I have never seen the university this polarized," and expressed concern that "if the current divisions on campus are not resolved, this could become an existential problem for the university."
This report, which is nearly 500 pages long, devoted 311 pages to the state and causes of antisemitism and anti-Israel bias, and 222 pages to issues related to anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bias.
First, the Harvard report pointed out that "antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiment have been generated, practiced, and tolerated not only at Harvard but throughout academia." At the same time, it stated that Muslim, Palestinian, and Arab students and community members also "experienced feelings of uncertainty, abandonment, threat, isolation, and intolerance."
The report also identified that "biased curricula and low intellectual standards, which have been neglected for decades, have fueled much of the prejudice that emerged after the Israel-Hamas war." It specifically criticized cases of certain professors who are strongly associated with particular political parties or positions, as well as academic "laziness" in some courses that inadequately addressed Jewish or Israeli perspectives when discussing the Israel-Palestine conflict.
In particular, the report noted that "after the outbreak of the Gaza war, the Harvard campus became a space for pro-Palestinian solidarity and unrestrained expressions of anger toward Israel," adding that "many Jewish and Israeli students felt that this anger was directed at them personally."
Regarding anti-Muslim sentiment, the report stated that "many Arab and Palestinian students felt abandoned and silenced after the outbreak of the Gaza war." It especially criticized the incident in which a conservative group drove a billboard truck around campus, displaying the identities of students who expressed support for Palestine, which instilled fear and anxiety among these students.
As measures to improve this situation, the report suggested establishing standards for course content to promote intellectual openness, strengthening rules regarding campus protests, and implementing admissions procedures to select students capable of thinking across multiple perspectives. However, it emphasized that such changes and improvements must be achieved through the efforts of the university's own members. The report on antisemitism cautioned, "No matter how well-intentioned, we are concerned that external parties may try to force us to implement the reforms we have proposed."
In response to these findings, Allen Garber, President of Harvard University, issued a public apology and pledged to resolve the issues. He stated, "There have been moments when we failed to meet the high standards we rightfully set for our community," and emphasized, "Harvard will not and cannot tolerate serious prejudice." He added that "the university is considering applying the recommendations of the report to school operations."
Meanwhile, the Trump administration demanded policy changes at Harvard University, citing the need to eradicate antisemitism. However, Harvard rejected these demands, stating that "the Trump administration's requirements go beyond acceptable limits and infringe on academic freedom." In response to the administration's retaliatory measures, including suspending funding worth several trillion won, Harvard has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government.
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