Harvard Graduate’s Controversial Path
A Harvard graduate who faced charges for allegedly assaulting an Israeli classmate during a notable protest in October 2023 is now back at the university, according to various reports.
Elom Tettei Tamaklo, a seminary graduate, started working as a graduate faculty member in August. His focus includes advising on curriculum design and providing consultation on intricate academic issues. Reports suggest he might receive stipends of up to $11,000.
During a protest that erupted after a Hamas attack, Tettei Tamaklo was recorded confronting Yoav Segev, a first-year student at Harvard Business School, who was trying to film the event. The incident, as noted by National Review, led to Tettei Tamaklo being charged with assault and battery.
The court mandated that he undergo anger management classes, take a negotiation course at Harvard, and complete 80 hours of community service. By November 2024, after fulfilling these requirements, a judge dismissed his case.
Interestingly, despite the incident and its fallout, Harvard allowed Tettei Tamaklo to continue his education before taking on a new role in the institution.
The assault garnered attention from the Trump administration, which urged Harvard to investigate and consider expelling Tettei Tamaklo and others involved, stressing that their federal funding depended on maintaining a campus free of anti-Semitic harassment.
Harvard, however, opted not to impose significant academic sanctions apart from removing Tettei Tamaklo from a proctoring role, which was described as a response to “student discomfort.”
He wasn’t the only one facing charges; Ibrahim Barmal, a Harvard Law School graduate, was also implicated in the protests and charged with a similar assault. Harvard provided support to him as well, and he eventually received a $65,000 Harvard Law Review Fellowship.
The Harvard Crimson noted that both defendants denied any physical contact with Segev, arguing that they were subject to a racially biased crackdown by the university’s police.
Police reports reveal that protesters tried to obstruct Segev’s cameras, and officers identified Tettei Tamaklo, Barmal, and another individual as the most aggressive participants in the protest.
Meanwhile, Segev has filed a federal lawsuit against Harvard, alleging that the university failed to protect him and hindered his efforts to pursue disciplinary action, claiming they employed “misleading tactics” during the criminal investigation.
Harvard University has not yet commented on the situation.
