Harvard is being investigated by the FBI and Department of Education over complaints college 'failed to respond to reports of harassment of Jewish and Israeli students on campus' after student was 'shoved' at pro-Palestine die-in

The United States Department of Education has opened an investigation into Harvard University's ongoing struggle to combat antisemitism on campus.

The FBI is also probing an alleged instance of antisemitism that was carried out against a first-year Israeli MBA student on October 18.

According to Fox, the chief attorney for Boston's Office of Civil Rights - a department within DoE - wrote in a letter that the office will be looking into whether Harvard 'failed to respond to alleged harassment of students based on their national origin (shared Jewish ancestry and/or Israeli) in a manner consistent with the requirements of Title VI.'

The attorney, Kristi R. Harris, said 'opening the complaint for investigation' does not imply that the office has 'made a determination on the merits of the complaint.'

'Our goal is the prompt resolution of the complaint,' she wrote, adding that the complaint could also be resolved through mediation with the university.

The letter was addressed to an alum of the prestigious university who filed a complaint with OCR to allege that Harvard had discriminated against students on the basis of national origin by failing to respond appropriately to recent incidents of harassment.

The complaint arrived in response to a first-year, Israeli HBS student reportedly being shoved and harassed by anti-Israel protestors during a 'die in' held last month near the business school campus.

The FBI also received a complaint that the student had his phone torn from his hands and was physically and verbally assaulted.

Footage of the student being harassed during the protest was widely circulated and several of the students who physically blocked the student while repeatedly shouting 'shame' at him have since been identified though it is not clear that any disciplinary action has been taken against them.

One student, Ibrahim Bharmal, is a member of the Harvard Law Review and assists with first year law classes. Another, Elom Tettey Tamaklo, is a divinity school student who also regularly assists younger students with their 'adjustment to Harvard.'

Harvard President Claudine Gay said on November 9 that she has 'heard from many community members' about the incident.

'That incident is being investigated by the FBI and the Harvard University Police Department,' she said. 

'Consistent with our standard practice, once law enforcement’s inquiry is complete, the University will address the incident through its student disciplinary procedures to determine if University policies or codes of conduct have been violated and, if so, take appropriate action.' 

The letter also said that complainants may have a right to file a private suit in federal court, regardless of whether or not OCR finds that there was a violation of Title VI, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color or national original in any program or activity actively receiving federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

The investigation came to light on the same day it was announced that college presidents from Harvard, MIT and the University of Pennsylvania would be testifying on Capitol Hill next week about the antisemitism that has proliferated across their campuses since October 7.

Students at all three universities have seen demonstrations of antisemitism unfold at an alarming rate in the wake of Hamas' barbaric terror attack. 

The hearing will take place on December 5 before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, which is currently chaired by GOP Rep. Virignia Foxx.

'College administrators have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow,' said Foxx in a statement. 'College and university presidents have a responsibility to foster and uphold a safe learning environment for their students and staff. Now is not a time for indecision or milquetoast statements.'

A Harvard spokesperson said President Gay 'looks forward to sharing updates and information on the university’s work to support the Harvard community and combat antisemitism.'

In the weeks since the massive terror attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and launched the region back into a bloody war, there have been hundreds of protests and counter-protests on US college campuses.

Some such events have become hostile and, on occasion, violent.

At Cornell, a student was arrested two weeks ago for issuing graphic threats about killing Jews on campus and shooting up the kosher dining hall.

At Columbia, a Jewish student was assaulted; at Cooper Union, Jewish students were forced to hide in a library as anti-Israel protestors surrounded them; and at MIT, Jewish students were told not to walk through the school's main entrance hall last week when anti-Israel demonstrators staged a protest.

At George Washington University, pro-Hamas students displayed the words 'Glory to Our Martyrs' on a building wall.

Incidents of similar color have occurred at UCLA, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, NYU, Cooper Union, and Georgetown.