Students at DePaul University are outraged at the pattern of racist, anti-Palestinian, xenophobic, sexist, and Islamophobic statements of Philosophy Professor Jason D. Hill. He has used words such as “uncivilized,” “barbaric,” and “primitive” in his tweets to describe Middle Eastern and Muslim people. In a recent article in the Federalist he has said, “...only a policy of radical containment or expulsion [of Palestinians] remains a viable option.” Professor Hill’s rhetoric is representative of a growing global far right movement that serves as inspiration for perpetrators of racist violence, such as that of the Christchurch massacre.

DePaul claims to uphold the Vincentian values of social justice, service,  and community. However, Professor Hill’s statements stand in direct opposition to these values. If DePaul’s administration wishes to truly embody the Vincentian mission, they should feel obligated to meet the following student demands:

We, the students of DePaul University call upon the administration to censure Professor Hill for his heinous statements against marginalized communities. His comments create unsafe and uncomfortable spaces for everyone, especially Palestinian and Muslim students who now all refuse to enroll in a class that is taught by Professor Hill. We are not only seeking censure, but for Professor Hill to commit to racial sensitivity training and to release a public apology for his immoral conduct.

It is imperative for DePaul University to condemn Professor Hill in order to reaffirm and reinstitute our mission. Regardless of whether the DePaul administration takes comprehensive action, we will continue to fight for justice and equality for all marginalized communities on campus.

On the famous statue of John J. Egan is engraved, “What are you doing for justice?” We put this forward for DePaul University to answer.