The StandWithUs Center for Legal Justice (SCLJ) and two Jewish students have filed a federal lawsuit against the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), alleging the institution violated their rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit, filed in the Massachusetts District Court, accuses MIT of fostering an environment ripe with antisemitism.
The lawsuit accuses MIT of actions that purportedly enable antisemitism on campus, arguing the college tolerated harassment of Jewish students and professors, allowed calls for violence against Jews without disciplinary actions, and permitted discriminatory activities against Jews. Such actions are alleged to contribute to an environment wherein Jewish students feel unsafe, compelling a number to defer graduation or exams and avoid certain areas on campus.
Specific incidents detailed in the lawsuit include professors being intimidated by students and Jewish and Israeli students being physically prevented from attending classes by hostile student groups. The lawsuit seeks to compel MIT to halt its alleged discriminatory policies and pay monetary damages for the supposed civil rights violations levelled against the Jewish students.
Addressing the lawsuit, Yael Lerman, SCLJ director, highlighted the pressing need for a safe and discrimination-free educational environment for Jewish students. The Lawsuit’s intention is to challenge MIT’s alleged evasion of accountability and its supposed ongoing support of antisemitism on its campus.
This incident is not MIT’s first brush with public scrutiny over its response to antisemitism. In December 2023, the House Committee on Education and Workforce initiated a formal investigation into MIT, Harvard University, and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) concerning their handling of increasing antisemitism on their campuses. During a hearing, university presidents were scrutinized over their policies on free speech, anti-bullying, and responses to Title VI violations, eventually resulting in calls for their resignations due to perceived inadequacies.
The ongoing investigation and lawsuit are set against the backdrop of a reported increase in antisemitism in the US. An American Jewish Committee (AJC) report released in February 2024, revealed that nearly two-thirds of American Jews feel less secure in the US than they did a year prior.
In response, MIT issued a statement saying it would not comment on ongoing legal disputes. They insisted that the university has established protocols to manage and address issues related to discrimination and harassment.
You can read more about the lawsuit on the JURIST news website.