By: Fern Sidman

Harvard University is facing a federal lawsuit from one of its students, Yoav Segev, who alleges that the university not only failed to protect him after he was assaulted on campus but actively shielded his attackers and retaliated against him for seeking justice. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, has been closely scrutinized in a report that appeared at The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

According to court documents obtained by National Review and analyzed in the JNS report, Segev claims that following the October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks in Israel, antisemitism surged on Harvard’s campus. The complaint describes an environment where hostility toward Jewish students escalated sharply, fueled by anti-Israel protests and demonstrations. Segev, who is Jewish, became a direct target of this hostility during a widely publicized campus incident.

Segev’s attorney, Mark Pinkert, a partner at Holtzman Vogel, detailed the allegations in comments to JNS, stating, “After Oct. 7, 2023, antisemitism exploded on Harvard’s campus. Amidst the chaos and protests, Yoav Segev was violently assaulted by student-employees, simply because he is Jewish.”

The confrontation in question occurred when Segev was recording a campus protest – an anti-Israel “die-in” demonstration – using his phone. Protesters reportedly demanded that he leave the area. Segev asserted his right to remain in the public space, a decision that allegedly provoked a violent response. As documented in the complaint, a group of individuals, some wearing keffiyehs, encircled Segev and grabbed him forcefully.

Rather than receiving protection or institutional support in the aftermath, Segev contends that Harvard systematically obstructed his attempts to seek redress. According to the information provided in the JNS report, the lawsuit asserts that Harvard took deliberate actions to protect the assailants, undermine the criminal investigation, and prevent Segev from obtaining any form of administrative relief within the university’s grievance system.

The lawsuit details that after Segev submitted a formal complaint, Harvard informed him it could not take disciplinary action against the students involved because he wished to remain anonymous. JNS reported that the university launched what Segev’s legal team describes as a “sham” investigation in January 2024 but ultimately declined to disclose the findings to Segev. This opaque handling of the incident is a central issue in the legal proceedings now unfolding.

Moreover, the JNS report highlighted additional claims from the lawsuit asserting that Segev tried to join other legal actions against Harvard under the condition of anonymity. However, Harvard allegedly publicized information that made it easy for the campus community to identify him. This exposure culminated in an article by The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, which explicitly named Segev in connection with a lawsuit against the university.

Compounding the controversy, Harvard appeared to reward two student employees implicated in the October 2023 incident. One of the individuals allegedly involved in the assault received a paid fellowship with the prestigious Harvard Law Review, while another graduated from Harvard Divinity School as a class marshal – an honor typically reserved for distinguished students.

Segev’s complaint contends that the university’s actions – both in shielding the alleged perpetrators and in failing to address the broader climate of antisemitism – have had severe personal consequences. The suit asserts that Segev continues to suffer profound impacts on his health, mental wellbeing, and sense of security.

In response to inquiries from JNS, Harvard’s director of media relations and communications, Jason Newton, maintained that the university remains steadfast in its commitment to combating antisemitism and enforcing anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies. “Harvard has acted with deep concern for supporting our Jewish and Israeli students and will defend the university against these claims,” Newton stated.

Despite Harvard’s official stance, the case has amplified national scrutiny of the university’s handling of antisemitism, especially in the charged atmosphere following the October 7 attacks. The lawsuit is part of a growing trend of Jewish students and organizations seeking legal recourse against institutions perceived as failing to uphold protections against antisemitic harassment and discrimination.

Attorney Mark Pinkert stressed that Segev’s decision to sue Harvard is not solely about his personal experience but also reflects broader concerns about the university’s treatment of its Jewish students. “Yoav Segev is pursuing justice against Harvard not only for failing to protect him and other Jewish students but for defending and rewarding antisemitism,” Pinkert told JNS. “This type of treatment would be unimaginable for other minorities at Harvard, except Jews.”

JNS has been at the forefront of reporting on how elite academic institutions have responded – or failed to respond – to incidents of antisemitism on campus. The Segev lawsuit, as reported by JNS, raises significant questions about university governance, student safety, and the enforcement of anti-discrimination policies in higher education.

Observers following the case have noted the potential for this lawsuit to set legal precedents, particularly concerning how universities manage allegations of bias and harassment against minority students. Whether Harvard’s actions – as alleged by Segev – constitute negligence, retaliation, or a broader institutional failure remains to be adjudicated in court. However, the JNS report emphasized that the case reflects a deepening mistrust between Jewish students and university administrations in the current political climate.

The outcome of this case may resonate far beyond Cambridge, serving as a touchstone for universities nationwide grappling with similar allegations of antisemitism and institutional accountability.