Judge dismisses MIT anti-Semitism lawsuit

Two students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology accused the school of discriminating against Jewish students by allowing anti-Semitic actions and harassment on campus. U.S. District Judge Richard Stearns dismissed the students’ case last week alleging their argument lacked standing. MIT took steps to contain the escalating on-campus protests that genuinely threatened the welfare of Jewish and Israeli students, he wrote. Stearns’ dismissal came days before he ruled to allow an anti-Semitism case against Harvard University to move forward.

What was the logic of the Harvard ruling? Stearns backed the basis of that lawsuit from students who alleged the school fostered anti-Semitism and disregarded the safety of Jewish students during violent anti-Israel protests. The complaint accused administrators of selectively enforcing the school’s anti-discrimination policies. Administrators also ignored petitions from Jewish students concerned for their safety, according to the lawsuit. The facts presented showed that Harvard failed its Jewish students, Stearns penned. The ruling cleared the way for the case to go to trial.

Dig deeper: Read my report for more detail on other colleges facing discrimination suits over their response to pro-Palestinian protests on campus.