Harvard employs graduate accused of assaulting Israeli student during protest

Harvard Graduate Charged with Assault Hired by University

A Harvard University alum, who faced charges for allegedly assaulting an Israeli classmate during a notable protest in October 2023, has been appointed to a new role at the institution, as reported.

Elom Tettei Tamaklo, a recent graduate from the seminary, started working as a graduate student faculty member in August. As part of her job, she advises faculty on curriculum and consults on various complex academic issues, and she could possibly earn stipends up to $11,000, according to the National Review.

During a 2023 protest triggered by a Hamas attack, Tamaklo was caught on video confronting Yoav Segev, a first-year student at Harvard Business School who was attempting to film the event. The incident garnered significant attention.

Tamaklo was charged with assault and battery, leading to a judge ordering her to complete anger management classes, take a negotiation course, and perform 80 hours of community service. After fulfilling these requirements, a Boston Municipal Court judge dismissed the charges in November 2024.

Despite the turmoil surrounding her case, Harvard allowed Tamaklo to continue her education and later offered her a new position within the university.

The assault incident drew the attention of the Trump administration, which urged Harvard to take action against Tamaklo and others involved, emphasizing that the university’s federal funding relied on ensuring a harassment-free campus. However, Harvard officials cited concerns about “student discomfort” and chose not to impose any academic sanctions beyond removing Tamaklo from her proctoring role.

Another student involved in the protest, Ibrahim Barmal from Harvard Law School, also faced similar charges but received support from the university and later obtained a Harvard Law Review Fellowship worth $65,000.

During the investigation, both Tamaklo and Barmal maintained that they did not physically touch Segev and accused the university police of racially biased enforcement. While police reports indicated that protesters had pressed against Segev to obstruct his camera, they identified Tamaklo, Barmal, and one other individual as particularly aggressive.

In response to the situation, Segev has initiated a federal lawsuit against Harvard, alleging the university failed to protect him and impeded his efforts for disciplinary action. He claimed that misleading tactics were employed to prevent him from seeking any administrative relief during the criminal proceedings.