Fighting for Civil Discourse and Academic Freedom

Last week, the American Association of University Professors set aside its hundred-year defense of academic freedom by opening the door to any number of individually initiated academic boycotts. Individual students and faculty have always had the right to advocate for academic boycotts, and it is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. But an unqualified right “to make their…

As the fall 2024 semester approaches, it’s not clear what we can expect from student protestors, outside agitators, faculty instigators, and college administrators. Numerous lawsuits have been filed and either settled or are moving through the courts while, at the same time, the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights is investigating and settling various complaints that have been filed with it. College administrators are grappling with balancing free speech and academic freedom claims with the civil rights of Jewish students who have been the subject of physical, mental and verbal abuse that has mostly gone unpunished. Some universities are reconsidering their approach to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and others are instituting training sessions for employees. Unfortunately, students are showing no signs of tiring or interest in discontinuing their offense against Jewish students and faculty and the State of Israel and they seem to have deep pockets funding their efforts. Join us for a discussion to unpack all of this with campus expert, Asaf Romirowsky, Executive Director of Scholars for Peace in the Middle East and of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa.