Haverford College in Philadelphia has settled with a Jewish group over the college’s handling of antisemitism.
The suit was brought by Jewish members of the College community on May 13, 2024, asserting claims of antisemitic discrimination against the College in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and a contract claim in the aftermath of October 7, 2023.
The 129-page original suit laid out numerous examples of anti-Jewish and anti-Zionist discrimination against the plaintiffs.
For example, lead plaintiff Ally Landau was pressured by senior Haverford College administrators, including Dean John McKnight, into canceling a pre-approved Antisemitism Awareness component of a women’s basketball game.
Plaintiff HJSB was "forced to change her routine at Haverford in order to avoid being confronted by blood libels directed at the Jewish people." Plaintiff HJSE was told by President Wendy Raymond that an event put on by anti-Israel Haverford students which claimed Israel was “weaponizing” COVID against Palestinians was not antisemitic.
Plaintiffs represented by Jewish civil rights firm, The Deborah Project
The plaintiffs were represented by The Deborah Project, a public interest law firm that defends the civil rights of Jews in education.
In a statement on Friday, Haverford President Wendy Raymond said the college had reached an agreement with The Deborah Project. As part of the settlement, the college reaffirmed the College's commitment to all Jewish, Israeli and Zionist students, saying they are "welcome and enjoy equal access."
She also affirmed that "harassing, excluding or seeking to silence Jewish community members on the basis of their beliefs, or any other element of their Jewish identity, including Zionism, is anathema to the College's core principles." Raymond said this principle extends to all classrooms, offices, student organizations, and all employees and students.
"Acts of discrimination, harassment, and bias against students who identify as Jewish, and/or Israeli, and those who support Zionism, the right of the Jewish people to self-determination and statehood in the land of Israel, violate College policy and are antithetical to Haverford’s mission, values, and standards," said Raymond. Anyone found to have engaged in such acts of harassment will be subject to disciplinary action, she stressed.
She stated that no Haverford professor may discriminate against any student, or any other member of the Haverford community, "on the basis of that person’s commitment to Judaism, Israel or Zionism."
Raymond also took the opportunity to acknowledge the experiences of the members of the College who are committed to Israel as the Jewish homeland and who "have been deeply hurt by events that have transpired on our campus since October 7, 2023." These events represent a failure on the part of the college, she added.
According to a statement put out by The Deborah Project, the settlement agreement also featured other important elements.
One revision is that Haverford community members wearing a mask or face covering (For example, during a protest) will now be required to confirm their identity if requested by Campus Safety or the Dean’s staff.
Newly created office has jurisdiction over antisemitism claims
Additionally, the newly-created office of the College’s Civil Rights Director will now have jurisdiction over the adjudication of and response to claims of antisemitism in violation of Title VI.
The College has also promised to establish an Antisemitism Committee which will operate as an advisory committee to the President of the College, and will provide an annual report to the College’s Board of Managers reflecting its findings and recommendations. The ASC will be comprised of three Jewish community leaders, three members chosen by Plaintiffs, and three members chosen by the College.
As part of its annual Title VI training, the College will now mandate annual antisemitism awareness training for all students, faculty, and staff.
It will also now be considered a violation of Haverford College’s antidiscrimination policy for faculty to refuse to write letters of recommendation on the basis of students’ Jewish, Zionist, and/or Israeli identity.
Haverford professor Barak Mendelsohn, who self-identifies as a proud Jewish Zionist, celebrated the win.
"Settlement is a great achievement for Haverford's Jews," he said. "We're hopeful Haverford is ready to again be a welcoming place for Jews. But given our awful experience, we'll stay on guard and assure commitments the college made are followed."
Mendelsohn also said he hopes other schools will adopt similar settlements.
"It will be very satisfying if the haters at Haverford who attacked us for nearly 3 years will see that their actions resulted in stronger anti-antisemitism policies. May this be their heritage."