Date: 12/1/25
Time: 12:40 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: Smith 294, hybrid
Join us in a discussion with Jennifer Ruth and Ericka Kimball of the findings from a new joint report by AAUP National and the Middle East Studies Association, “Discriminating Against Dissent: The Weaponization of Civil Rights Law to Repress Campus Speech on Palestine.” This report reveals how Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act is being weaponized by pro-Israel and right-wing groups, to allege antisemitism and suppress campus speech, specifically related to Palestine.
Since October 7, 2023, antisemitism investigations have surged dramatically, with 65 probes opened in 2024 compared to 38 for all other racial harassment cases combined. This shift in enforcement priorities threatens academic freedom and political dissent.
We will discuss defending academic freedom and shared governance against these concerted, well-funded attacks, and safeguard our right to teach, research, and engage in academic speech without fear of weaponized legal action.