Identity of Speakers
-
170 faculty at Columbia University and Barnard College
Faculty/Staff
Other
Resources
Additional Information
-
Incident Nature:
Other
-
Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Other
-
Incident Status:
No litigation
- Did not involve Speech Codes
Summary
In the wake of a controversial Palestinian solidarity statement issued on October 9, 2023, by Columbia University’s chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), over 200 faculty members from Columbia and Barnard Colleges signed an open letter condemning the backlash faced by students who endorsed the statement. The faculty expressed concern over the targeting of students for their political views, emphasizing the importance of protecting free speech and academic freedom. The statement, which expressed solidarity with Palestinian resistance and called for an end to Israeli settler-colonialism and apartheid, led to disciplinary actions against the student organizations involved. The faculty’s support highlights the ongoing debate within academic institutions regarding the balance between free expression and the safety of all students
