https://socialistaction.org/2017/11/18/drexel-professor-suspended-following-right-wing-attack/
Drexel professor suspended following right-wing attack
/ 24 hours ago
Nov. 2017 Drexel Prof.
Drexel Professor George Ciccariello-Maher.
By WAYNE DELUCA
— PHILADELPHIA — George Ciccariello-Maher, a controversial left-wing
professor at Drexel University in this city, was placed on
administrative leave in October after a string of death threats from
far-right internet trolls. All of his classes were cancelled for the
quarter without a replacement. The university has stated that this is a
step meant to “ensure the safety of our campus.”
Last December, Ciccariello-Maher came under intense fire for a Twitter
post saying, “All I want for Christmas is White Genocide.” As a
Political Science professor, Ciccariello-Maher has repeatedly criticized
the concept of “white genocide” as a fiction used by far-right
reactionaries, and the tweet was clearly satirical. At the time, Drexel
“condemned” the tweet but did not take action. Now, after tweets blaming
Las Vegas shooter Stephen Paddock’s actions on white supremacy and
patriarchy drew the ire of internet Nazis, he has been suspended.
There have been rumors that classes may continue on-line. A student in
one of Ciccariello-Maher’s courses told Socialist Action, “We don’t want
that; the class was meant to be in person since it’s heavily
discussion-based.”
As a professor teaching radical theory and vocally opposing the far
right in their on-line stomping grounds, Ciccariello-Maher has drawn
attention. In an editorial [1] in the Washington Post, he wrote, “As a
scholar and teacher, giving context and depth to contemporary debates is
an important part of what I do, and it’s a calling I take seriously.”
The Intercept, an on-line platform funded by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar
and lent credibility by journalists such as Glenn Greenwald and Jeremy
Scahill, published an attack by Zaid Jilani called “Left-Wing Drexel
Professor Who Opposes Free Speech Has His Curtailed.” [2] This cowardly
article quotes “The College Fix,” a right-wing blog with connections to
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos [3] and implies that, because
Ciccariello-Maher thinks that racist educators should be fired, he does
not deserve free speech or academic freedom. This is not the quality
journalism that The Intercept touts, but rather an open and personal attack.
Ciccariello-Maher told Socialist Action: “It’s disappointing to see The
Intercept publish a poorly timed and poorly thought-out personal attack
at a time when solidarity is more necessary than ever to block the
right-wing campus takeover. Jilani’s screed is an embarrassment for
himself and for The Intercept.”
On November 15 and 16, students in Ciccariello-Maher’s Race and Politics
class walked out in protest of his still ongoing suspension and staged
sit-ins at provost M. Brian Blake’s office. Students then attempted to
disrupt a town hall meeting happening at the same time but were blocked
from entering by the administration.
This is far from the only recent attack on left-wing academics.
Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, an African-American socialist who teaches at
Princeton, had to cancel public speaking engagements due to death
threats. [4] Johnny Williams, at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., was
suspended because of a quote on Facebook. [5] And a recent rule change
by the University of Wisconsin regents could punish students for actions
that “[disrupt] the free speech of others.” [6]
Following a few high-profile protests, particularly at the University of
California at Berkeley, the far right has created a false narrative
(echoed in the capitalist media) about “free speech” being in peril for
racists and fascists. In reality, though, the chilling effect is
strongest against the left wing on campus. This is particularly true of
supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement for human
rights in Palestine. Laws such as one that was passed in the state of
New York, as well as pro-Israel groups, have been on the offensive
against professors and campus groups fighting for justice in Palestine.
Socialist Action opposes any restrictions by universities or governments
on free expression. We believe that fascists and racists need to be
opposed, not by regulating their speech, but by counter-mobilization
through mass action. We support George Ciccariello-Maher and demand that
he be reinstated immediately and allowed to teach without censure or
restriction.
[1]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/10/10/conservatives-are-the-real-campus-thought-police-squashing-academic-freedom/?tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.4939cf74cb9b
[2]
https://theintercept.com/2017/10/14/drexel-professor-ciccariello-maher-free-speech/
[3]
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/02/07/betsy-devoss-connection-college-fix-conservative-higher-education-news-site
[4]
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/06/01/princeton-professor-who-criticized-trump-cancels-events-saying-shes-received-death
[5]
https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2017/06/27/trinity-college-connecticut-puts-johnny-eric-williams-leave-over-controversial
[6]
http://www.newsweek.com/university-wisconsin-aims-target-violent-protests-against-speakers-681695
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November 18, 2017 in Civil Liberties, Education & Schools, students,
Philadelphia, Fascism / Far Right.
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