Palestine, MIT, and Free Speech: A Letter from Student Activists to Our Professors
MIT Faculty NewsletterSep 28, 2022
Pro-Palestine Student Protests Expand From Columbia to New England Colleges
The Facts
Ongoing protests supporting Palestine and against the ongoing conflict in Gaza have continued at Columbia University and begun at other US campuses in the New England area such as MIT, Tufts University, and Emerson College.
Students in the Greater Boston campuses began protesting around 7 p.m. local time on Sunday in support of the Columbia demonstrations.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
Student groups advocating the liberation of Palestinians and the Gaza war have for months faced challenges in discussing Palestine openly at various major US campuses due to censorship concerns. Such student groups at Columbia, MIT, Tufts, and other campuses have turned more vocal in an unprecedented manner. This grassroots human rights movement is getting the long overdue attention of the political and higher education establishment.
Pro-Israel narrative
Complaints of antisemitism at elite universities like Harvard and MIT reveal systemic issues. Jewish students have, in recent months, faced threats, assaults, and intimidation on campuses, with allegations of biased treatment and safety concerns. Upholding legal obligations to protect students from harassment is crucial — emphasizing the need to address antisemitism and anti-Israel bias effectively in academic settings to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all.
Nerd narrative
There's a 70% chance that Israel will have de facto power in the Gaza Strip on Jan. 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.