The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY), a chapter of the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today denounced New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s order directing the City University of New York (CUNY) to immediately remove a job posting for a Palestinian studies professor role at Hunter College.
The posting, now removed, sought a professor with expertise in “issues pertaining to Palestine including but not limited to settler colonialism, genocide, human rights, apartheid, migration, climate and infrastructure devastation, health, race, gender, sexuality.”
CUNY’s Professional Staff Congress, PSC, issued a letter to Governor Hochul citing their strong opposition to her actions due to its overreaching on academic freedom and the need for more inclusive ways of teaching not canceling “divisive” areas of study. Such actions contradict the core mission of academic institutions to foster dialogue, critical thinking, and social justice.
SEE: New York governor orders removal of Palestinian studies job posting at CUNY
SEE: PSC letter Academic Freedom at Hunter 2-26-25
CAIR-NY Executive Director Afaf Nasher, Esq. stated:
“The governor has demonstrated an unwavering bias toward any narrative contradicting the pro-genocide perspective. Her interference in the proposed class at Hunter College examining an alternative narrative is not surprising in the least. CAIR-NY urges the Governor Hochul to allow Hunter College to hire the staff it sought in its job posting.”
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CONTACT: Afaf Nasher, CAIR-NY Executive Director, ANasher@cair.com
CAIR-NY Communications Team, comms@ny.cair.com