A federal lawsuit accusing Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of tolerating antisemitism following the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel has been dismissed, while a similar lawsuit against Harvard University has been allowed to continue.
The MIT lawsuit alleged that the university approved antisemitic activities on campus and tolerated discrimination and harassment against Jewish students and faculty. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns dismissed the MIT lawsuit on July 30, noting that MIT took steps to address on-campus protests that posed a potential threat to Jewish students.
On the other hand, the judge allowed parts of the lawsuit against Harvard to move forward, criticizing the university's response to antisemitic incidents as indecisive and vacillating.
The fallout from the Israel-Hamas conflict affected campuses across the U.S. during the last school year, sparking debates over free speech and the balance between political speech and discrimination prevention.
MIT expressed appreciation for the court's assessment and stated its commitment to supporting all students while pursuing its mission.
The StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice, which filed the lawsuit against MIT, expressed disappointment at the dismissal and vowed to continue efforts to hold institutions accountable for antisemitism.
Students Against Antisemitism, Inc., accused Harvard of violating Jewish students' civil rights by tolerating harassment and intimidation. The judge upheld civil rights claims against Harvard, citing instances where the university failed its Jewish students.
Harvard stated its commitment to addressing antisemitism on campus and protecting Jewish and Israeli students, emphasizing its confidence in acting fairly and supporting its community.
