US Professor Arrested for Online Harassment of Jewish Students

Haverford College in Pennsylvania announced that Professor Guangtian He has been arrested and charged with online harassment and intimidation. College President Wendy Raymond stated that the online attacks attributed to him were antisemitic in nature. He has been placed on administrative leave and banned from campus while the criminal proceedings are ongoing. The professor, who teaches religious studies, was on sabbatical and not teaching this academic year. The college's announcement did not detail the content of the attacks, the identities of those targeted, or the specific circumstances leading to the arrest. Raymond confirmed that college representatives had contacted the affected individuals and thanked the FBI, Haverford Police, and campus security for their assistance. "Discrimination is unacceptable," Raymond wrote to the college community, expressing deep distress over the allegations and emphasizing that "any form of harassment or discrimination based on identity is unacceptable, contrary to our values, and has no place at Haverford." She added that the proximity of the incident to the High Holidays and the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre amplifies the pain for many. The college is offering mental and spiritual support to community members and encouraging those affected to report their experiences. Prior to his arrest, He's strong anti-Israel and anti-Zionist statements were documented. A letter from U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman Tim Walberg to Raymond in June 2025 cited an August 2024 post by He on X, stating, "The State of Israel must be dismantled and society must undergo a process of de-Nazification." In the same post, He also wrote, "Zionism is Nazism, it is fascism. Zionists are racist." The letter also referred to He's remarks that the way to deal with Zionists is to stop talking to them and not let them waste others' time, specifically addressing liberal Zionists. He compared "Zionists by force" to "Nazis by force," suggesting most Nazis might have belonged to the latter category. The committee demanded clarification from the college regarding whether these statements were investigated and requested documents concerning complaints and disciplinary actions against him. The civil lawsuit filed against the college documented further statements attributed to He from August 2024. Regarding individuals he claimed remained silent or supported what he defined as genocide, He wrote, "I will never forgive them. I know their names and I know their faces. Never forgive. No reconciliation." According to the lawsuit, Jewish students found his remarks about knowing names and faces threatening. A publication was also documented in which He harshly attacked anyone who raised the question "What about Hamas?". The college's announcement does not link these publications to the arrest, and there is currently no basis to determine they are the reason for the charges. However, the documented statements offer insight into the extreme rhetoric and hostility of He towards Jews and pro-Israel individuals on campus.