The San Francisco Bay Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-SFBA), along with CAIR National, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, has officially designated Stanford University as a hostile campus due to its ongoing pattern of suppressing Palestinian advocacy, silencing student activism, and penalizing faculty for addressing Palestinian human rights.
SEE: Press Conference Announcing the Designation
Despite claiming to uphold free speech and academic freedom, Stanford has engaged in troubling actions that create a hostile climate for students and faculty who challenge Israeli occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Gaza. These actions include:
- Harsh Disciplinary Actions Against Student Protesters – Stanford has repeatedly arrested, suspended, and threatened expulsion for students peacefully protesting in support of Palestinian rights. In June 2024, 13 students were arrested for participating in a peaceful demonstration. The administration has also dismantled encampments and sit-ins without dialogue, choosing punitive measures over engagement.
- Retaliation Against Faculty – Stanford suspended lecturer Ameer Hasan Loggins for leading classroom discussions on Palestine, setting a dangerous precedent for academic freedom. Despite widespread student and faculty support for his reinstatement, the university has remained silent.
- Restrictive Free Speech Policies – Recent policy changes impose tighter restrictions on protests, require student IDs for demonstrations and ban face coverings, directly undermining student activism. Over 75 faculty members have criticized these policies as suppressing free expression and intimidating dissenting voices.
- Failure to Protect International Students – After the Trump Administration threatened to deport international students participating in pro-Palestinian protests, Stanford failed to provide assurances or protections, abandoning its students in a moment of urgent need.
- A Clear Double Standard – While other campus protests have been met with leniency, Palestinian advocacy faces disproportionate crackdowns. Students and faculty involved in Palestine activism have reported surveillance, intimidation and administrative threats, reinforcing an environment of fear and suppression.
Stanford’s actions mirror a broader, nationwide suppression of Palestinian advocacy on college campuses. A 2024 CAIR-CA survey found that 74% of Muslim students reported harassment or discrimination for supporting Palestine, while 61% felt their university was hostile to discussions on the issue. FIRE’s 2025 College Free Speech Rankings place Stanford at #218 out of 254 schools, highlighting its failure to foster an open and inclusive environment.
In a statement, CAIR-SFBA Civil Rights Managing Attorney Jeffrey Wang said:
“Stanford’s actions set a dangerous precedent for free speech on campus. By selectively enforcing rules against students and faculty advocating for Palestinian rights, the university has fostered an inequitable environment that discourages student activism—a cornerstone of university life and social progress. This pattern of suppression raises serious concerns about potential violations of civil rights and academic freedom. Stanford must take immediate steps to ensure its policies are applied fairly and do not disproportionately target those speaking out on Palestine.”
CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo added:
“Stanford University’s actions have sent a chilling message to students and faculty who dare to speak out against Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza. The university’s suppression of Palestinian advocacy—through arrests, suspensions, and retaliation—directly contradicts its stated commitment to free speech and academic freedom. Stanford’s treatment of its students and faculty makes clear that Palestinian voices are not welcome on its campus. We call on the administration to uphold the fundamental rights of its students, faculty, and all members of the Stanford community.”
Last May, CAIR released ‘Hostile’: How Universities Target Anti-Genocide Protesters, detailing unprecedented efforts across the country to suppress students from advocating for Palestinians. In August, CAIR launched its Unhostile Campus Campaign, a project aimed at fostering a campus environment where Palestinian, Muslim, Arab, Jewish, and other students, faculty, and staff opposing the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza enjoy free speech and academic freedom and are not subjected to state force or university discipline due to their viewpoints. Since then, CAIR has designated many colleges and universities as hostile due to their creation of a thoroughly hostile and dangerous environment for anti-genocide students.
Students, staff, and faculty who wish for their university or college campus to be potentially designated as a hostile campus should complete the ‘Report a Hostile Campus’ form. This form is intended solely to inform CAIR’s ‘UnHostile Campus Campaign.’ Individuals seeking CAIR’s legal and advocacy services should contact their local office or chapter, or if there is no local chapter, file a formal report with CAIR’s National Civil Rights Department.
CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-SFBA Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, ladam@cair.com