The article discusses the abrupt termination of San Francisco State University’s (SFSU) Arab and Muslim Ethnicities and Diasporas (AMED) Studies program following a series of coordinated attacks led by right-wing media outlets and figures, culminating in pressure from Republican members of Congress and wealthy donors. The attacks centered on allegations of antisemitism and support for terrorism, specifically targeting Professor Rabab Abdulhadi and her academic work and activism.
The author argues that the university administration, under President Lynn Mahoney, failed to defend the program and its faculty against these politically motivated attacks, ultimately succumbing to external pressure and prioritizing financial considerations over academic freedom and the rights of faculty and students. The article details how fabricated and distorted accusations, amplified by right-wing media, were used to smear the program and its faculty, creating a hostile environment that the university did little to counteract.
The author contends that the closure sets a dangerous precedent, signaling that universities are vulnerable to external political interference and intimidation campaigns aimed at suppressing academic inquiry and silencing critical voices, particularly those focused on Palestine and the Arab and Muslim world. The decision is portrayed as a betrayal of the university’s supposed commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a victory for right-wing forces seeking to stifle dissent and control academic discourse.
find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/03/31/sfgo-m31.html