Source Middle East Eye
Over 45 Columbia Law School professors have signed a letter calling for a Columbia University Senate inquiry into the controversial departure of their colleague Katherine Franke, marking an escalation in the dispute over academic freedom and protest rights on campuses.
The 15 January letter, addressed to Columbia’s senior leadership, including the interim president and board of trustees, requests an investigation into what the signatories describe as Franke’s “constructive termination” following her stance on pro-Palestinian protests.
While acknowledging diverse views regarding the Middle East conflict and campus protests, the faculty members united around two core positions: that the allegations against Franke don’t warrant termination or its equivalent and that the university’s handling of the matter may have undermined protections for academic freedom and political speech.
“We do not know the full details of Franke’s disciplinary case,” the letter states, emphasising that the signatories hold “no common position” on whether her remarks violated university policies. However, they express unified concern that the process was “deployed to chill and punish [her] advocacy”.
Academics, activists and alumni criticised Columbia University this week after tenured professor Franke announced that the institution pressured her to retire over her vocal criticism of Israel and support for pro-Palestinian protests on campus.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/dozens-columbia-law-demand-inquiry-into-professor-termination
