San José State University Professor Fights Tenure Dismissal Over Pro-Palestinian Activism
The first tenured faculty member at a US public university to be fired over pro-Palestinian protests has taken on her employer in a fight to regain her job. Sang Hea Kil, a tenured professor of justice studies and advisor to the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, was let go last month after attending a protest that turned violent on campus.
Kil's dismissal comes as part of a growing trend of universities cracking down on faculty members who engage in pro-Palestinian activism. The case highlights concerns about academic freedom and free speech at US institutions, where the Trump administration has increased pressure on universities to enforce strict policies around protests and dissent.
According to university records, Kil attended a protest that became physical between student protesters and a faculty member who was filming them. She claimed she was present in a personal capacity, while the other faculty member had allegedly "assaulted" a student. After an investigation, Kil was informed of her dismissal due to alleged violations of university policies related to protests.
However, a faculty committee that reviewed the case concluded that the dismissal was disproportionate and not justified. The American Association of University Professors, Middle East Studies Association, and California Scholars for Academic Freedom have also rebuked the university's actions against Kil.
Kil plans to sue the university if her reinstatement through arbitration fails. She has described the situation as "New McCarthyism," where geopolitical interests are prioritized over constitutional rights and academic freedom. Her case raises questions about the limits of faculty free speech outside the classroom, particularly when it comes to expressing support for marginalized groups or opposing government policies.
The university's president, Cynthia Teniente-Matson, has maintained that Kil's dismissal was necessary due to concerns over student safety. However, experts argue that her actions did not affect her ability to perform her job as a professor.
"This is an example of how far universities have strayed from the principles of academic freedom," said Henry Reichman, a retired professor at California State University, East Bay. "You dismiss tenured professors for things like failing to show up in class or engaging in some minor infraction, but you do not hold them accountable when they speak out against injustice."
The first tenured faculty member at a US public university to be fired over pro-Palestinian protests has taken on her employer in a fight to regain her job. Sang Hea Kil, a tenured professor of justice studies and advisor to the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter, was let go last month after attending a protest that turned violent on campus.
Kil's dismissal comes as part of a growing trend of universities cracking down on faculty members who engage in pro-Palestinian activism. The case highlights concerns about academic freedom and free speech at US institutions, where the Trump administration has increased pressure on universities to enforce strict policies around protests and dissent.
According to university records, Kil attended a protest that became physical between student protesters and a faculty member who was filming them. She claimed she was present in a personal capacity, while the other faculty member had allegedly "assaulted" a student. After an investigation, Kil was informed of her dismissal due to alleged violations of university policies related to protests.
However, a faculty committee that reviewed the case concluded that the dismissal was disproportionate and not justified. The American Association of University Professors, Middle East Studies Association, and California Scholars for Academic Freedom have also rebuked the university's actions against Kil.
Kil plans to sue the university if her reinstatement through arbitration fails. She has described the situation as "New McCarthyism," where geopolitical interests are prioritized over constitutional rights and academic freedom. Her case raises questions about the limits of faculty free speech outside the classroom, particularly when it comes to expressing support for marginalized groups or opposing government policies.
The university's president, Cynthia Teniente-Matson, has maintained that Kil's dismissal was necessary due to concerns over student safety. However, experts argue that her actions did not affect her ability to perform her job as a professor.
"This is an example of how far universities have strayed from the principles of academic freedom," said Henry Reichman, a retired professor at California State University, East Bay. "You dismiss tenured professors for things like failing to show up in class or engaging in some minor infraction, but you do not hold them accountable when they speak out against injustice."
sang hea kil is literally fighting for her life over speaking out about palestinian rights and its SO messed up 
i mean i get that universities need to deal with protests and all but tenuring someone over it is just ridiculous 
what's next gonna they fire ppl for having a hoodie with a certain logo on it lol 
like whats going on over there?? the american assoc of univ profs and other orgs r speaking out against this and i am HERE. FOR. IT 
kil is literally calling it "new mccarthyism" and im like YAAAS GIRL 
she needs to take them down 
. She's just trying to speak out against an important issue and now she's losing her job because of it? It's crazy. I mean, I'm all for student safety and all that, but come on! If the university is going to crack down on faculty members who support marginalized groups or express dissenting opinions, then what's next? Will they start firing people for voting Democratic or something? 
The whole thing just seems so unfair. And what about academic freedom? It's supposed to be one of the most important things in universities, but now it's being trampled on because some folks don't like certain opinions. 
. What's next, firing professors for tweeting about climate change? 
I swear, this country is at its wits end trying to balance free speech and "student safety"... but shouldn't they be more concerned about actual harm than just avoiding controversy? 
university's policies on protests and free speech are getting more strict 
and it's causing problems for faculty members who want to express their opinions 
. i mean, sang hea kil was just doing her thing as a pro-palestinian activist and now she's fighting to get her job back 
. the american association of university profs is all like "no way, dude" and stuff 
. it's crazy how universities are prioritizing student safety over academic freedom 
. The stats are insane: in 2020, 71% of tenure-track faculty members who spoke out against Israeli policies experienced some form of retaliation 
. In 2019, 57% of US universities reported having a policy prohibiting faculty from speaking out on politics 
. Meanwhile, in 2020, only 14% of professors reported feeling confident in expressing their opinions on Israel-Palestine issues without fear of retribution 
.
and we need to take notice 
. The stats show that 68% of US universities have a policy prohibiting faculty from engaging in certain forms of activism, including boycotts and divestment 
.
. And we need to hold institutions accountable for their policies and practices 
. This case is just the beginning 