A teacher has been subjected to criticism by an training watchdog group for often lobbying his fellow professors and incorporating anti-Israel stances in his classes.
A Freedom of Information Act request submitted by Defending Education made emails sent by academics at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois, people this year.
According to the letters sent in 2023, Jeffrey McCully, an associate professor of sociology, who strongly encouraged his associates to assist the anti-Israel protest, withdrawal, and punishment movement, the majority of the letters were written by him.
He urged his fellow classmates to “decolonize the school” because it is “essential to promoting a more equitable and advised discussion of Arab liberation.”
According to McCully,” Being in BDS can be a strong way for the school to adopt a tenet-based attitude on social justice and human right.” By backing BDS in favor of Arab liberation, the college joins a worldwide movement that promotes Arab rights and self-determination.
McCully continued,” This will not only show unity with an important social justice problem, but it will also point out the faculty’s commitment to responsible global citizenship and ethical investment practices.”
Additionally, the teacher argued that “fostering a diverse and inclusive studying environment that promotes Arab liberation requires increasing funding for social, academic, and social programming on campus.” According to his contact, this will boost awareness for the cause of Palestine.
McCully stated that he hopes to “increase the number of majority full-time career track faculty, including those who are knowledgeable about Israeli liberation,” as this will “enrich the college workplace with different perspectives and experiences” and “provide role models for students who may have a private or scientific interest in the Israeli struggle.”
McCully has been in contact with The College Fix numerous times, but he has not already responded.
The protest of all companies that have a connection with Israel is a demand of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions motion.
On the website of Defending Education, you can find copies of McCully’s letters.
In a speech to The College Fix, Nicole Neily, chairman of Defending Education, said,” Anti-Israel engagement isn’t exclusive to the Ivies – it’s infiltrated state schools and community schools alike.
Given his efforts to engage acquaintances in his political activism and his proud display of an” Al Aqsa Flood” flyer in his school time after Hamas murdered women and children, McCully says,” McCully’s fears for undergraduate safety band hollow.”
McCully’s other suggestions are that the college release a statement about “academic freedom to discuss the history of military occupation in Palestine” to demonstrate that the school values “free and open inquiry.” The email reads,” This sends a clear message that diverse perspectives and critical examination of contentious topics are valued.”
McCully mentioned a strike to call for a ceasefire in Gaza in an email sent on December 11, 2023.
Please take note that some of our students may be putting in labor, going off to school, or not shopping, he wrote.
The purpose of this email is to encourage faculty to accommodate students who feel the need to take part in this strike, especially as a means of overcoming their own profound trauma, and to give them the chance to make up their final exams, McCully wrote.
Because it involves “human rights abuses, not politics,” McCully claimed in another email that the issue was not political.
His emails don’t mention Israel’s citizens ‘ support.
According to McCully, “everyone should feel safe on campus,” but “at this very moment, it’s the Palestinian people who are going through the horrors of ethnic cleansing and genocide.”
In an email to his colleagues, McCully wrote that” I think a chemistry class could be an amazing time to discuss Israel’s use of white phosphorus, skunk water, tear gas, and other such weapons against Palestinian civilians, including children.”
An academic counselor responded,” What is happening in Gaza is horrifying and on-going.” Additionally, the counselor added,” I really hope faculty will be accommodating for any student who needs to step out for any reason, especially one as extreme as what is happening in Gaza.”
A few professors expressed disapproval and demanded that McCully refrain from sending them any political emails in the future.
One professor once said,” I am here to teach chemistry and to assist my students in their learning process in any way that I can.” I sincerely hope there are other counselors who share our Jewish students ‘ trauma from the terrorist attack of October 7th.
The Moraine Valley Community College media department sent a statement to The College Fix, but we were unsuccessful in getting back.
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A video of Israeli and Palestinian flags crashing together on a YouTube screenshot
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