Harvard Under Fire: US Senator Mitt Romney and Hedge Fund Manager Seth Klarman Accuse University of Neglecting Safety of Jewish Students Amidst Pro-Palestinian Protests

Harvard University is facing criticism from five Harvard Business School alumni, including US Senator Mitt Romney and hedge fund manager Seth Klarman, who accuse the university of neglecting the safety of Jewish students during pro-Palestinian protests on campus. In an open letter published on Monday, the alumni highlighted "threatening demonstrations" and revealed that Jewish students have resorted to locking themselves in their dorm rooms out of fear for their own safety.

The letter called on Harvard to reinforce and enforce its existing moral code of conduct, which applies to students, employees, and faculty members. The alumni expressed their astonishment and alarm at Harvard's silence amidst the increasing antisemitism on campus. They compared Harvard's vocal support for the rights of other religious, racial, and ethnic groups to its deafening silence in the face of the rise in antisemitism.

The letter serves as additional evidence of the ongoing controversy surrounding Harvard's handling of the Mideast conflict fallout, particularly after a statement blaming the attack on Israel was issued by over 30 student groups. Criticism was also directed at Harvard's initial silence, as former Harvard president Larry Summers expressed his outrage. While Harvard declined to comment on the letter, its president, Claudine Gay, has subsequently condemned the terrorist acts committed by Hamas. Gay reiterated her commitment to ensuring that Jewish life thrives on campus during an alumni reunion event.

Demonstrations supporting Palestinians on campus have been escalating, with around 500 protesters walking out of class and marching through multiple Harvard schools. However, incidents of violence or arrests during these protests were not mentioned by The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper. According to the open letter endorsed by Klarman and Romney, an Israeli student was recently assaulted on the Harvard Business School campus.

The alumni urged Harvard to check the student IDs of protesters and deny access to outsiders. While the university has imposed temporary restrictions on non-Harvard ID holders, they are not currently in effect. The alumni also called for demonstrators to reveal their faces and proposed the implementation of a semester-long course that emphasizes productive discourse, critical thinking, and fact interrogation to foster reasoned debates. It is worth noting that Klarman and his wife, Beth, have made significant donations to Harvard Business School, with a building named in their honor.

Romney, who co-founded and led Bain Capital before his political career, was also a former governor of Massachusetts, the state where Harvard is located. Notably, two billionaire donors, Idan Ofer and Leslie Wexner, have withdrawn their support from Harvard. The university's handling of the Mideast conflict has not been unique, as other US colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford University, also face controversies related to the war, including calls for resignation and suspensions over allegations of targeting students based on their identities.