US EditionMuhlenberg College firing of pro-Palestinian professor violated academic freedom, report concludes
- Muhlenberg College fired tenured professor Maura Finkelstein in May 2024 following months of controversy over her pro-Palestinian social media posts.
- The firing followed online pressure, a Change.org petition, and a social media post that called for shaming community members, amid escalating tensions since October 2023.
- The AAUP found that the college dismissed Finkelstein without a pretermination hearing or adjudication by faculty peers, violating academic freedom principles.
- The report stated Finkelstein's dismissal lacked clear evidence of just cause and noted that concerns about antisemitism and Palestinian liberation must both be taken seriously.
- Finkelstein’s firing has prompted faculty and students to self-censor and raised broader concerns about protecting academic freedom amid campus conflicts over Israel-Palestine issues.
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Protesting Notre Dame's Cancellation of a Palestine Keynote
Committee on Academic Freedom | Middle East Studies Association | – Letter to the University of Notre Dame expressing concern over the cancellation of a keynote lecture by Professor Eman Abdelhadi Mary E. Gallagher Dean, Keough School of Global Affairs University of Notre Dame mgalla33@nd.edu Dear Dean Gallagher: We write on behalf of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and its Committee on Academic Freedom to condem…
Eagle-Tribune
arcamax.comMuhlenberg College firing of pro-Palestinian professor violated academic freedom, report concludes
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Muhlenberg College’s firing last year of tenured associate professor Maura Finkelstein following an anti-Zionist repost on Instagram violated academic freedom, according to a report the American Association of University Professors released Tuesday.
Update: Statement of Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom approved
The Wake Forest board of trustees has accepted the Statement of Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom, according to a school-wide email from President Susan Wente and Provost Michelle Gillespie. “This Statement underscores Wake Forest’s commitment to the free exchange of ideas, which is fundamental to academic freedom and the pursuit of knowledge,” the message reads. “It ensures that all members of our university community, including stud…
EISA statement on academic freedom in the United States
The European International Studies Association expresses its grave concern over the recent and escalating pressures, threats, ideologically motivated funding withdrawals, and violations of academic freedom across the United States. Academic freedom requires that research, teaching, and scholarly activities be free of interference from donors and political authorities, and to operate without institutional censorship or the threat thereof. These a…
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