Student FLEES MIT Over Rampant Hate

Jewish students at MIT forced to abandon their education as the prestigious institution becomes a “breeding ground” for unchecked antisemitism, lawsuit alleges.

Key Takeaways

• Lawsuit filed against MIT accuses the administration of allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus after the October 2023 Hamas attack
• Professor Michel DeGraff named in the 71-page complaint for allegedly harassing, defaming, and doxxing Jewish faculty and students
• Former Ph.D. student William Sussman claims antisemitic harassment forced him to withdraw from his program
• The case follows a successful settlement with Harvard University that led to adoption of antisemitism standards
• Plaintiffs are requesting a jury trial under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

MIT Accused of Fostering Antisemitic Environment

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology now faces serious allegations of allowing antisemitism to flourish unchecked on its campus. Filed by the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law and White & Case LLP in the US District Court for Massachusetts, the 71-page lawsuit claims that MIT President Sally Kornbluth and the administration failed to take meaningful action against a surge in antisemitic incidents following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. The comprehensive legal complaint documents numerous troubling incidents, including campus protests advocating violence against Jews, celebrations of the Hamas attack, and persistent harassment targeting Jewish and Israeli students.

“In the absence of moral leadership and meaningful action, the MIT campus was turned into a breeding ground of anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli hate and hostility that emboldened students and professors to harass and discriminate against Jews and Israelis without restraint,” states the lawsuit filed against MIT.

The lawsuit represents a growing trend of legal challenges against elite academic institutions for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students from discrimination. The Brandeis Center previously reached a settlement with Harvard University that required the adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. This latest legal action signals that top universities are increasingly being held accountable for creating environments where Jewish students face hostility simply for their identity or support of Israel.

Professor Accused of Targeted Harassment

At the center of the lawsuit is MIT linguistics professor Michel DeGraff, who stands accused of directly harassing Jewish faculty members and students. The complaint specifically names mathematics instructor Lior Alon and former Ph.D. student William Sussman as plaintiffs who allegedly suffered targeted harassment. According to court documents, DeGraff subjected Alon to social media attacks that jeopardized his professional opportunities and personal safety. The most serious allegation involves “doxxing” Dr. Alon, an Israeli professor, potentially exposing him to real-world threats.

“Not only were several anti-Semitic incidents conducted at the hands of a professor, but MIT’s administration refused to take action on every single occasion. The very people who are tasked with protecting students are not only failing them, but are the ones attacking them,” said Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center.

The case of William Sussman highlights the severe consequences of the alleged hostile environment. Sussman claims he was forced to leave his Ph.D. program after becoming a target of DeGraff’s social media posts. When MIT conducted an investigation into DeGraff’s actions, the university controversially concluded that his conduct did not constitute antisemitism, a determination strongly contested in the lawsuit. The university has since removed DeGraff from the linguistics faculty and designated him as “faculty at large,” reportedly due to his public attacks on the institution.

Legal Claims and Broader Implications

The plaintiffs are pursuing legal action under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination in federally funded educational institutions. The complaint specifically alleges that MIT administrators “knowingly failed to take action to eliminate the hostile climate and discrimination” against Jewish community members. Beyond the civil rights violations, the lawsuit also seeks redress for severe emotional distress and defamation suffered by the plaintiffs, who have requested a jury trial to resolve the matter.

“MIT administrators knowingly failed to take action to eliminate the hostile climate and discrimination against them or to stop the retaliation, in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Individual Plaintiffs were also subjected to outrageous and wrongful conduct that has resulted in severe emotional distress and extreme anxiety and anguish. The Individual Plaintiffs were also defamed by a MIT professor,” states the complaint.

This case represents part of a broader effort by the Brandeis Center, founded in 2011, to combat antisemitism on American campuses through legal action. The organization has developed a track record of successful civil rights cases against universities that fail to protect Jewish students. Legal experts note that this lawsuit may become a landmark case that forces prestigious institutions to confront antisemitism with concrete policies rather than mere statements of concern. The outcome could significantly impact how universities nationwide address discrimination against Jewish students.

Calls for Institutional Reform

Advocates for campus reform point to the lawsuit as evidence that elite universities require structural changes to protect students from discrimination. The Brandeis Center and other organizations are pushing for institutions to adopt clear definitions of antisemitism, establish robust reporting mechanisms, and ensure swift consequences for discriminatory behavior. Critics note that MIT’s handling of the situation reflects a broader pattern across academia where antisemitism is often treated less seriously than other forms of discrimination.

“In order to eradicate hate from campuses, we must hold faculty and the university administration responsible for their participation in —and in this case, their proliferation of — anti-Semitism and abuse,” said Kenneth Marcus, founder and chairman of the Brandeis Center.

The lawsuit comes at a time when antisemitism has reached alarming levels on American campuses. For many conservative observers, the MIT case exemplifies how progressive academia has created environments where certain types of discrimination flourish under the guise of political activism. As this case progresses through the legal system, it will likely intensify pressure on university administrators nationwide to demonstrate tangible commitments to protecting Jewish students rather than simply issuing statements condemning antisemitism.