SAN FRANCISCO
Lee Heidhues 5.26.2024
The assault on Academia in the Bay Area continues.
The right to speak out against the ongoing Israeli criminality against the children, women and men of Gaza which has seen the deaths of over 35K since October 7 is being pushed under the proverbial rug. In a paroxysm of censorship and unwavering support by academia leadership for the State of Israel.
Last week the President of Sonoma State University was forced out.
Now a distinguished professor at San Jose State University has been unceremoniously sacked for supporting the Palestinian people.
This assault on free speech is blatant Red Baiting which is akin to people being labeled Communist and having their careers and lives destroyed in the 1950’s.
Excerpted from The San Francisco Chronicle 5.26.2024
San Jose State University has temporarily suspended a justice studies professor who served as a liaison between administrators and pro-Palestinian demonstrators, the Chronicle has learned.
A statement by the CSU Student Divestment Coalition, a group of students advocating for schools to end financial support for companies doing business with Israel for its attacks on Gaza during its war with Hamas militants, slammed the university’s decision to suspend Sang Hea Kil, which it attributed to her support for pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
Sang Hea Kil, a renowned professor at the university, received notice of her suspension Friday, according to a document reviewed by the Chronicle. The suspension letter says Kil is being suspended for violating Article 17 of the collective bargaining agreement between California State University and California Faculty Association.
The university didn’t specifically state what Kil did to warrant suspension, but alluded to certain actions in the suspension letter.
The letter states that Kil violated university policies due to “unprofessional and exploitative” conduct toward students, directing them to violate university policies and “engaging in harassing and offensive conduct and comments directed towards colleagues individually and as a group.”
Kil also posted the letter on her personal social media page, saying “SJSU has suspended me for my Palestine work. The fight for academic freedom continues.” She could not be reached for further comment.
Asked about Kil’s suspension Saturday, a spokesperson said the university does not comment on personnel matters.
Sang Hea Kil in a Zoom forum
https://www.sfchronicle.com/us-world/article/san-jose-state-professor-sang-hea-kil-19478281.php
Top photo: Professor Sang Hea Kil – https://www.sjsu.edu/socialsciences/faculty/rsca-faculty-bio/kil-sang.php
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