Nearly 200 Harvard Affiliates File Complaints Alleging ‘Hostile Environment’ for Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims

Nearly 200 students, faculty and other Harvard affiliates filed discrimination complaints with the University alleging a “hostile environment” against Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims following Harvard Medical School’s cancellation of a panel featuring patients from Gaza.

The complainants included 32 faculty, 36 students and 30 staff members, as well as alumni. They submitted complaints both through an online portal maintained by Navex EthicsPoint and through direct emails to Harvard Medical School and Harvard University administrators.

In a Tuesday press release, complainants asked Harvard to formally apologize to students and patients for cancelling the event. They also called for an institution-wide investigation into anti-Palestinian bias, mandatory training in anti-Palestinian bias, the foundation of an Institute of Palestine Studies and the condemnation of hate speech against Harvard programs studying Palestine.

An ad hoc group of Harvard affiliates organized the campaign, according to the press release and Sara al-Zubi, an HMS graduate and a medical staff at an HMS-affiliated hospital who is also a member of that group.

“We have observed clear patterns of discrimination — patterns of being treated unfairly based on our national origin and religion. This has created a hostile environment for us at Harvard,” al-Zubi wrote in a statement.

Harvard Medical School spokesperson Ekaterina Pesheva wrote in a statement that HMS “remains committed to combatting all forms of discrimination and harassment.”

“We will continue to advance our efforts to ensure that all community members belong on our campus and in our classrooms, and are supported in their learning, research, and professional work,” Pesheva wrote.

The complaints come less than two weeks after Harvard quietly resolved a U.S. Department of Education investigation into a complaint of anti-Arab, anti-Muslim, and anti-Palestinian discrimination.

At least two Harvard employees announced plans to quit their jobs last month, alleging that Harvard has fostered anti-Muslim bias and suppressed pro-Palestine speech.

Both Jay Ulfelder, program director of Harvard Kennedy School’s Nonviolent Action Lab and Hussein Rashid, Assistant Dean of Religion and Public Life at the Harvard Divinity School, submitted resignation letters in January.

— Staff Writer Sebastian B. Connolly can be reached at sebastian.connolly@thecrimson.com. Follow him on X @SebastianC4784.

— Staff Writer Julia A. Karabolli can be reached at julia.karabolli@thecrimson.com.