By Victoria Keraj
On Feb. 25, Governor Hochul made a statement ordering for a CUNY-Hunter College job listing looking to hire a Palestinian studies professor to be removed on the basis of the job description.
The job post, which can be viewed in the New York Post, sought a Palestinian studies professor who analyzes issues such as “settler colonialism, genocide, human rights, apartheid, migration, climate, and infrastructure devastation,” among other areas of expertise.
According to the New York Post, a Hochul spokesperson stated, “Governor Hochul […] directed CUNY to immediately remove this job posting and conduct a thorough review of the position to ensure that antisemitic theories are not promoted in the classroom.”
CUNY chancellor Matos Rodriguez made a statement siding with Hochul on the job post as “divisive, polarizing and inappropriate.” The statement confirmed that action was taken to ensure Hunter college remove the listing and that “CUNY will continue working with the Governor and other stakeholders to tackle antisemitism on our campuses.”
Many CUNY faculty opposed Hochul’s decision and felt as if her urging CUNY to demand Hunter remove the job posting was a breach of academic freedom.
The Professional Staff Congress (PSC) of CUNY, a union for CUNY faculty, sent a letter to the governor calling her actions “an overreach of authority” and wrote that “an elected official dictating what topics may be taught at a public college is a line that should not be crossed.”
CUNY members who sided with Hochul felt that a supposed class concerned with the issues the job post brought up would be overly critical of Israel.
“To make a Palestinian Studies course — completely about alleged Jewish crimes — is akin to courses offered in the Nazi era which ascribed all the world’s crimes to the Jews. This course takes antisemitism to another level at CUNY,” Jeffrey Wiesenfeld, a former CUNY trustee, told The New York Post.
The job was originally posted after Hunter President Nancy Cantor received feedback that students wanted “more attention to Palestinian Studies,” according to The New York Times. The NYT also reported that, after the position was ordered to be taken down, a Hunter spokesperson said “[The school] will be reviewing the posting process and look[s] forward to adding scholars with expertise in this subject matter to our distinguished faculty.”
Hochul was to appear at a press conference at City College to address the citation, but cancelled the event due to security concerns according to The Columbia Spectator. College groups organized a protest at City College, stating, “If you believe in Palestinian liberation and the right to organize without repression, organize to call her out. CUNY students, faculty, and community members can and should hold her accountable.”. The Columbia Spectator also reported that two students at the protest were arrested.
According to TheNation, when relisting the position, “[T]he hiring committees […] opted to cut—instead of replace—the line about the subject areas under consideration in the new job listing.” As of now, there is no listing on CUNY’s job posting site for a Palestinian studies professor of any kind.