Columbia Law Professor Resigns, Cites Hostile Environment Over Pro-Palestinian Advocacy

Columbia Law Professor Resigns,Because of Pro-Palestinian Advocacy | Future Education Magazine

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Section 1: A Controversial Exit

Katherine Franke, a tenured Columbia law professor, of university has announced her resignation after 25 years on the faculty, citing a hostile atmosphere stifling academic freedom and open debate. In a statement on Thursday, Franke revealed that she reached an agreement with the Ivy League institution to cease her teaching and faculty governance duties. While the Columbia university labeled her departure as a “retirement,” Franke characterized it as a “termination dressed up in more palatable terms.”

Franke highlighted a toxic climate on campus, particularly surrounding discussions about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. “The Columbia administration has created such a toxic and hostile environment for legitimate debate around the war in Israel and Palestine that I can no longer teach or conduct research,” she stated. Her resignation follows rising tensions at the university over student-led protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which have been met with institutional pushback and criticism from rights groups.

Section 2: Backlash and Broader Implications

The campus protests, sparked by the war in Gaza, included calls for Columbia to divest from Israel and for a ceasefire in the conflict that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. Columbia’s efforts to suppress these demonstrations drew criticism, with some accusing the administration of curbing free speech and fostering a hostile environment for pro-Palestinian voices.

Francesca Albanese, UN special rapporteur on Palestinian territories, labeled Franke’s resignation as indicative of broader repression. “She is another victim of pro-Israelism that is turning universities into spaces of discrimination and oppression,” Albanese said. Human rights lawyer Noura Erakat called Columbia’s treatment of Franke “egregious,” stating that the university had become too hostile for her to continue her career. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) also condemned Columbia’s actions, describing them as an attack on academic freedom and free expression.

The Center for Constitutional Rights echoed these sentiments, framing Franke’s departure as a significant blow to both academic independence and advocacy for Palestinian rights.

Section 3: Investigations and a Contentious Statement

Franke’s resignation follows an investigation into her comments about Israeli students on campus. In a January 2024 interview, she expressed concern about the presence of Israeli graduate students who had recently completed military service, alleging that some had harassed Palestinian students. The comments led to complaints of discriminatory harassment and an external investigation, which ultimately found Franke in violation of Columbia’s policies.

The controversy escalated when former Columbia President Minouche Shafik faced questions during a congressional hearing in April 2024. Shafik agreed with a mischaracterization of Franke’s remarks, which Franke claims led to harassment and death threats. Despite filing an appeal against the investigation’s findings, Franke decided to leave the university, citing an irreparable breakdown in trust and a campus climate that undermined academic inquiry.

Franke concluded her statement by criticizing Columbia law professor, for prioritizing external pressures over its commitment to fostering critical debate. She described the university as complicit in undermining its own mission of academic freedom and intellectual rigor.

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