ADL Gives Harvard an F Grade on Antisemitism

ADL Gives Harvard an F Grade on Antisemitism
Photo: Brooks Kraft/Contributor/Corbis Historical via Getty Images

The Facts

  • After reviewing 85 American universities' policies on protecting Jewish students from antisemitism, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has given a failing grade to Harvard and 12 other schools — including MIT and Stanford University.

  • Seventeen schools received a "B" grade, 29 a "C," and 24 a "D." Only two schools — Brandeis University and Elon University — received an "A." Other "F" grades included the University of Chicago, Princeton, Tufts, Virginia, and North Carolina at Chapel Hill.


The Spin

Narrative A

This report is unsettling but unsurprising. Some of the top schools in the country, especially in the Ivy League, have been the site of many disturbing antisemitic incidents. The former president of Harvard was even unwilling to say calling for the genocide of Jews violated the school's code of conduct. These schools must do better.

Narrative B

This report follows the recent trend of pro-Israel groups and individuals incorrectly conflating any criticism of the Jewish State — much of which relates to the invasion of Gaza — with antisemitism. No one denies there's been an increase in antisemitic incidents across the US, but this conflation is incorrect and deeply problematic — as shown by a lack of tolerance for anti-war Jewish and Palestinian voices alike.

Nerd narrative

There's a 40% chance that Harvard will announce an end to preferential legacy admissions before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


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