Department of Justice Backs Grad Students in Comaroff Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

Kim, Ariel H.

Xu, Meimei

The Harvard Crimson

2022-09-08

Digital

The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed an amicus brief supporting three Harvard Anthropology graduate students who allege the university ignored sexual harassment and retaliation by professor John L. Comaroff. The lawsuit claims Harvard violated Title IX by being deliberately indifferent to retaliatory acts by Comaroff, who allegedly warned students they would face career obstacles if they reported his behavior. Harvard sought to dismiss several counts of the suit, arguing it shouldn't be liable for employees' retaliatory actions. The DOJ countered, stating Harvard can be held liable if it knowingly ignores such acts or if employees' conduct amounts to an official policy. The DOJ emphasized schools must protect students reporting sex discrimination from retaliation. The plaintiffs responded, stating Harvard's failure to protect them hindered their ability to seek recourse for sex discrimination. Harvard and Comaroff declined to comment on the DOJ brief.