After arguing that a pro-Palestinian speaker (Miko Peled) was incendiary and should not be invited to speak on the campus of Mt. San Jacinto College in Riverside, California, Dr. Denise Nussbaum became the target of a four month long campaign of harassment by her colleagues and the college administration. In addition, she was the victim of a physical assault perpetuated by a junior faculty member. 

Dr. Denise Dalaimo Nussbaum, Chair of the Sociology Department, distinguished author and professor, is now suing the Governing Board of Mount San Jacinto Community College for 9.5 million dollars for “assault, battery, false imprisonment, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence, gender discrimination, failure to prevent discrimination and harassment, violation of constitutional and statutory rights of free speech and political activities, retaliation, tortious interference with law enforcement investigation, and breach of fiduciary duty.” (http://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/260607/jewish-professor-hounded-california-riverside-phyllis-chesler)

This is situation is another horrendous example of the plight of Jewish academics on colleges and universities across America. Academics who identify as Jewish are targeted by students, colleagues and administrators for their pro-Israel stance while extreme BDS proponents are allowed to scream anti-Semitic threats.

It is time, yet again, that we raise our voices in support of academic freedom, of an educator's right to challenge the hire of a speaker of questionable integrity and of the importance of open dialogue. Let the world know that Jewish academics should be able to teach in safe environments where the fear of harassment and hostility do not exist.