Harvard University President Alan Garber issued a formal apology Tuesday following the release of two internal reports that exposed widespread antisemitic and anti-Muslim bias on campus, painting a troubling picture of an institution grappling with deep divisions.
The reports, which include emotional testimonies from students, detail an environment in which many felt compelled to hide their religious or cultural identities for fear of judgment, hostility, or isolation.
“I’m sorry for the moments when we failed to meet the high expectations we rightfully set for our community,” Dr. Garber wrote in an open letter accompanying the findings. “Harvard cannot—and will not—abide bigotry.”
The reports were commissioned in the aftermath of campus unrest following pro-Palestinian demonstrations last year, which erupted amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and the ensuing Israeli military response sparked heated debates and protests, magnifying longstanding tensions among Harvard’s diverse student population.
“These events unleashed long-simmering tensions,” Garber acknowledged, adding that many students were left feeling “targeted and shunned on the basis of their identities.”
Jewish and Muslim students reported experiences of alienation, marginalization, and in some cases, subtle pressure to downplay or hide their faith and cultural backgrounds—sometimes from peers, and at times, from faculty.
In response to the findings, Harvard announced a series of corrective actions, including a review of its admissions policies and academic programming. One of the proposed changes would include evaluating applicants on their ability to engage respectfully with differing perspectives—a move aligning with calls from the White House, which has publicly criticized the university for inadequately addressing antisemitism on campus.
Harvard’s leadership says the institution is committed to creating an environment where all students, regardless of faith or identity, feel safe, heard, and respected.
