During her nine years as a professor of anthropology at Muhlenberg College in Pennsylvania, Maura Finkelstein openly supported Palestinian liberation despite the challenges she faced as a Jewish professor at a school with a large Jewish student population. Despite teaching courses on Palestine, she was granted tenure in 2021, a position that typically guarantees job security and academic freedom. However, in May, she was fired for reposting a statement on her personal Instagram account that called for the shunning of Zionist ideology and its supporters. This decision marked the first time a tenured professor had been dismissed for anti-Zionist speech, setting a troubling precedent in academia. The dismissal followed a campaign led by anonymous alumni who pressured the college to remove Finkelstein for her views on Palestine. Despite this, Finkelstein remains committed to advocating for Palestinian rights and academic freedom. Know that there are safe spaces on campus – feel free to contact me if you need support.
The petition included screenshots of Finkelstein’s social media posts criticizing Israel, but none were directed at Jewish individuals.
Finkelstein was alarmed by a fundraising campaign for the Israeli military on campus and expressed her concerns to university leadership.
Despite facing complaints and meetings with school administrators, Finkelstein’s termination was based on a single complaint from a student she had never met.
The Department of Education complaint against the college added to Finkelstein’s troubles, leading to her termination. Zachary Marschall, the editor of Campus Reform, a right-wing site, is responsible for more than 10 percent of the open case complaints, according to a database compiled from public data by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. One of the complaints, involving Muhlenberg, dates back to January 16 and remains open. The complaint is attributed to a Jewish member of campus and involves a Jewish anti-Zionist professor who has written articles praising Hamas. The professor, Dr. Finkelstein, was placed on administrative leave after sharing a post on Instagram encouraging resistance to Zionists.
Students enrolled in Finkelstein’s classes were given limited information about her suspension, causing upset among them. Faculty colleagues also reported feeling left in the dark about the situation. A third-party investigation conducted by D. Stafford & Associates found that Finkelstein’s repost on Instagram violated the school’s equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies.
The investigation concluded that Finkelstein’s posts did not meet the criteria necessary to constitute harassment, but the school decided that Zionists should be considered a protected class based on guidance from the Department of Education. Finkelstein explained to administrators that Zionism is a political ideology and not synonymous with Judaism, but the school aligned with a growing consensus that conflates anti-Zionism with antisemitism.
A panel of college staff and faculty recommended Finkelstein’s termination for just cause, citing four counts of discrimination and harassment. Despite lodging appeals, Finkelstein was informed that her last day of employment would be on May 30. Her attorney, Stacey Leyton, believes there is a strong basis for litigation due to the unusual circumstances of the case. One individual facing repercussions for their extramural speech is University of Pennsylvania law professor Amy Wax, who has been criticized for her white supremacist and anti-immigrant views. Specifically, she stated that “our country will be better off with more whites and fewer non-whites.” As a result of her comments, Wax was suspended by her employer.
On the other hand, professor Finkelstein has faced consequences for speaking out against an ideology that is used to justify genocide, suppress Palestinian freedom, and stifle criticism of Israel. Despite other professors making discriminatory remarks and remaining employed, Finkelstein lost her position for opposing this ideology.
The AAUP has expressed concerns about Finkelstein’s treatment at Muhlenberg College and is sending a committee to investigate the situation. Finkelstein, who has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, reflects on the challenges faced by those who speak out against injustices like the “Palestine exception to free speech.”
In a statement, Finkelstein expresses a mix of not being surprised by the situation but also being unable to believe it has occurred. This highlights the ongoing struggles faced by activists and scholars advocating for Palestinian self-determination.
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