Harvard president apologizes after scathing report on campus anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim discrimination

Harvard University President Alan Garber has apologized for allowing discrimination against minorities, including Jews and Muslims on campus, following the release of task force findings on the matter.

"The 2023-24 academic year was disappointing and painful," Garber wrote in his letter. "I am sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community."

He also suggested the Oct.7, 2023, terror attack on Israel by Palestinian-backed Hamas, and the sides' resulting war in Gaza exacerbate existing discrimination, saying they had "serious repercussions on our campus."

The Ivy League university on Tuesday released the reports from its presidential task forces on antisemitism and anti-Israeli bias and anti-Muslim, anti-Arab and anti-Palestinian bias. 

Garber also said that Harvard "cannot – and will not – abide bigotry" and that the university "will continue to provide for the safety and security of all members of our community and safeguard their freedom from harassment." 

Garber also said that Harvard would implement some of the recommendations from the reports, including a review of disciplinary policies, a research project on antisemitism and a historical analysis of Muslims and Palestinians.

The recommendations are similar to those the Trump White House requested to unfreeze $2 billion in federal funding. Harvard rejected the demands and is now taking the matter to court. 

"May our successors, whether they are Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, Palestinian or of any combination of backgrounds and perspectives, find Harvard to be a place where they can be themselves, express their views freely, and encounter sympathy and understanding – a place where all are cheered on as they pursue their dreams," Gerber also wrote in his apology letter.