Efforts designed to chill any criticism of Israel at US colleges and universities by equating and labeling it as “Anti-Semitism” has gained much ground since its initial stages in September 2002. ADC was among the first groups to note that this organized national campaign to silence academic criticism of Israel is incompatible with cherished American values of free speech and inquiry. Other recent developments in this area, such as the controversy at Columbia University and Congressional bills linking funding of Middle East Studies programs with certain compliance measures have served to bolster this campaign. At the Convention, ADC held a panel entitled “Academic Freedom,” to address this disturbing trend.

The panel was moderated by ADC Legislative Director Christine Gleichert and included two panelists at the center of the debate. Issa Mikel, a Columbia University student, and Michael Hudson, a professor at Georgetown University‘s Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, spoke out in defense of academic freedom and against the attempted attacks on faculty for their political beliefs.

Mikel, a law student at Columbia University, played a key role in the defense of Dr. Joseph Masaad, a professor in the Middle East Languages and Cultures (MEALAC) program, who has been under attack for his alleged misconduct in the classroom.

The attacks on Masaad intensified after the screening of the questionable film, “Columbia Unbecoming.” The film, Mikel noted, was funded by a right wing Zionist organization from Boston, and cast a number of allegations but without proper substantiation and without bothering to talk with the persons attacked in the film. He added that in one particular incident, the film alleged that Professor Masaad told a student to leave the classroom due to his political stance. Mikel insisted that these claims where highly suspect, especially considering that several students taking part in that class signed a petition stating that the alleged event never occurred.

Mikel took a very critical view of policies and actions by Columbia University‘s administration, particularly president Lee Bollinger. He noted that the administration should defend its faculty and recalled the position of previous administrations that had defended the late Edward Said, a professor of comparative literature and champion of the Palestinian cause, by keeping the critics out of the university‘s inner workings. This administration, Mikel claimed, is completely different and allowed much time to pass before making any comment.

On a broader level, Mikel explained that several groups are behind the efforts to control academic debate on college campuses through out the US. Among these are CAMERA and the David Project, and individuals like Martin Krammer and Daniel Pipes, who seek to smear the reputations of professors who actively support the Palestinian cause. He concluded that this conflict is part of a struggle to win opinions on campuses and influence the leaders of tomorrow.

The second speaker was Professor Michael Hudson who also commented on the intensifying pressures on professors and by extension students. Hudson faulted the broader academic community for not playing a greater role in the defense of their peers.

He also added that the one of the weaknesses in the groups is that they hope to limit debate in academia, and he says this is where their argument is indefensible He added that the attacks raise serious questions about the role of professors and the freedom they have to do what they are trained for; teach others.

By Yousef Munayyer