Academic Freedom under Fire at Brooklyn College
The following opinion piece was penned by Kristofer J. Petersen-Overton who was fired from his position as adjunct lecturer of political science at Brooklyn College just days before his class on Middle East Politics was set to begin. The move came following a complaint from a prospective student in Peterson-Overton’s scheduled Middle East Politics course that the instructor’s “pro-Palestinian” bias would preclude him from objectively teaching the subject. After complaining to the school administration the student then contacted New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind, who in turn wrote to the president of Brooklyn College expressing his concerns about the course reading list. In that letter, Hikind labeled Peterson-Overton as “pro-suicide bomber.” Hours later, the provost of Brooklyn College dismissed Petersen-Overton on grounds that, as a doctoral student, he was insufficiently qualified to teach graduate courses at the college. This move came despite the fact that many graduate students in several departments currently teach and have taught master’s level courses at Brooklyn College over the years.
By Kristofer J. Petersen-Overton
I had some misgivings about teaching at Brooklyn College. Having worked for the Palestinian Center for Human Rights in the Gaza Strip, and having written works critical of modern Zionism in the past, I knew that some students might take issue with my political views. Anticipating this, I devoted one of the earliest meetings in my course to the place of objectivity and humanism in scholarship—issues we all must confront and which I hoped might instigate a serious classroom discussion. Indeed, I never imagined that my affiliation with a group that combined the words “Palestinian” and “human” in its title would become suspect. Nor did I imagine that an analysis of martyrdom and its place in Palestinian identity would be crudely associated with admiration for suicide bombers. But most of all I did not expect to be dismissed before having been given the opportunity to hold a single session of the course.
I am not overly concerned with the criticism of my detractors, however; my scholarship speaks for itself. I am concerned that Brooklyn College decided to let me go so quickly without attempting to contact me during the decision-making process and that they predicated their decision on a feeble lie.
According to the New York Times, Brooklyn College spokesman Jeremy Thompson pointed to my lack of a Ph.D. as grounds for my dismissal. “The course is an advanced [master’s level] course and he is only three semesters into his doctoral studies.”
Mr. Thompson is absolutely correct. I do not have a Ph.D. and I had just completed my third semester at the time of my hiring. Like all doctoral students at CUNY who serve as adjunct professors, I am working towards earning my Ph.D. But unlike many student professors at CUNY, I earned a Masters degree before entering the program, have published in the field and possess firsthand experience in the empirical circumstances of the subject matter. Unfortunately, the Provost’s office did not contact me before rescinding the appointment. And waiting to see how my class was to be conducted (it would have started February 3), would have apparently been far too novel an idea.
I can only draw one conclusion from Brooklyn College’s decision: we should be expecting the imminent dismissal of every Brooklyn College adjunct professor lacking a Ph.D. I’m not sure how many there are, but if you find yourself among this group, be assured that your job is not secure. Keep your political opinions to yourself. Better yet, do not publish anything at all and hope for the best. It’s better to be on the safe side, right?
Joking aside, there are a number of issues at stake here that clearly resonate far beyond my own case and affect all student professors. An attack on academic freedom and departmental independence is troubling enough, especially considering the clumsy way I was denied due process by the administration in this instance. But the practical consequences of the college’s decision underscore the precarious position that adjuncts hold at CUNY. In the blink of an eye, I have been denied tuition remission, access to subsidized health care for my family and financial compensation for the spring semester in a time of serious economic uncertainty. If the college’s decision stands, it should send a chill throughout the entire adjunct community.
On a final note, I should mention that I applied to CUNY in part because I was familiar with the strong stance it has taken on issues of academic freedom in the past. I was also aware that CUNY offered graduate students the unique opportunity to gain teaching experience. Unfortunately, I have been denied both. The only good thing to come of this sordid episode has been the tremendously inspiring deluge of messages and telephone calls I have received from students and faculty from all around the world. It seems the suppression of academic freedom is not taken lightly and even if I am unsuccessful in this struggle, I take solace in that.
To sign a petition in defense of Petersen-Overton’s academic freedom, please click here
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11 Responses to “Academic Freedom under Fire at Brooklyn College”
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Zeeshan Suhail and Tina Harris, Michael Busch. Michael Busch said: Kristofer Petersen-Overton on the denial of his academic freedom at #CUNY at the @cunyadvocate: http://bit.ly/hqmeNW [...]
My uncle, from the United States and an extremely idealistic person, joined the Hashomer Hatzair left-wing Zionist youth movement (which, by the way, believed in a bi-national state until Arab intransigence made that impossible), came to Palestine in 1947, worked for the Jewish Agency, then joined the Haganah and was killed when an Arab sniper, hiding in a mosque, shot him in the head.
Was he a martyr?
@Mr Geberer:
You don’t know? Good, because neither does Kristofer. It is a paper and an ongoing research about martyrdom in Palestine, defining ethnic identity and uncovering the deep symbolism for the Palestinian psyche he is after. So, when and if he comes up with a definitive conclusion (rather unlikely in Political Theory) he will let you know.
This is sad and a dangerous slippery slope. I am a BC Graduate (1969) and in those days, BC had the reputation of being one of the finest schools in the country. My teachers and the coursed were of the highest caliber and I got a great education which prepared me very well to become a communications expert.
I don’t know who put the pressure on BC, but as an advocate for social justice( read: pro-peace, pro Israel, pro Palestine, pro all human beings) it is a big step down for an institution that even this formerly poor Brooklyn girl has always been proud of.
The lack of due process here is chilling, indeed, and should ripple beyond the immediate subject of Middle Eastern politics. The message has been sent out to both adjuncts and non-tenured faculty within the CUNY system that academic freedom is relative to the pressures of sitting politicians and emotionally motivated students. The failure to even examine Petersen-Overton’s perspective’s before firing him comes at a moment when political power has become ever more concentrated into the hands of the few, too, and when the economic punishment for stepping outside the expected boundaries of ideology of the ruling groups is harsh as ever.
The accusation that Petersen-Overton’s ideological stance is the problem reveals a problem that is exactly the reverse: when politicians and students cannot even stomach the idea of an alternative perspective being taught, they reveal the fragile state of their own beliefs. The war on ideas originates in those with the least amount of evidence to back up their convictions. They only have their righteousness and emotions to guide their use of power. They cannot let other perspectives breathe in the same air. Their mission isn’t to debate, but to censor. Their efforts are the last-ditch strategies of those who have only power on their side. This act reveals that in Brooklyn we have lost another part of our democracy.
Justin,
Nice line: “Their efforts are the last-ditch strategies of those who have only power on their side.” Sadly, those who oppose any legitimate criticism of Israel have A LOT of power. That said, I sincerely hope KPO pursues legal action against Brooklyn College and CUNY, and I hope to see Brooklyn and GC students in the administrative buildings of Brooklyn College vocally protesting this action very soon. We’ll see.
Those of us in the pro-Israel community do not oppose legitimate criticism of Israel. None of believes that the State of Israel is perfect. What we do take deep offense to is the use of the term academic freedom as a cover for hate speech, denigration of Jews, spreading lies coupled with an intolerance of anyone espousing different views. If this is your idea of academic freedom than you are in the wrong country and/or at the wrong institution. A college student should not expect preaching instead of teaching. A college student should expect a teacher to tell the facts and clearly distinguish facts from personal beliefs. A college student should not feel intimidated, denied free inquiry and/or threatened with poor grades simply because they disagree with their teacher’s opinions. The people who cry about academic freedom are the very same individuals who seek to deny Israelis the same academic freedom by boycotting, delegitimizing and sanctioning Israel’s college faculties. This is a clear demonstration of the fact that those who choose to brainwash their students about the Middle East, hire only instructors who agree with their biases, refuse to listen to those with differing viewpoints and are the types of individuals for whom the term ‘chutzpah’ was meant.
Dear Wohl,
This student had not taught before and to assume that he would be preaching is, to say the least, unfair. If you take a look at the syllabus (which was not in its final form) you will see that KPO would go about discussing concepts such as nationalism, identity in the Middle East of both sides and even had required reading on objectivity and scholarship. I happen to know from first hand that KPO is against the academic boycott, but you simply ASSUME things about him without having the facts; and this is precisely what he would try and bring in the classroom – to critically think, form arguments and create a frame for discussion. There is nothing wrong with having a debate with one’s professor, it even increases the interest and motivates the student to arm him/herself with the knowledge to have a descent and interesting discourse. Please, do not fall in the same trap the people who fired him did; to have certain views does NOT automatically mean that you will bring them into class and every academic knows that.
to have certain views does NOT automatically mean that you will bring them into class
Unless you are a neo-con or an objectivist.
No, ‘ilektra’, you’re flat-out wrong, too many academicians preach vs. teach, just as Mr. Wohl said. It’s a patent deceit to put forward the idea that in academia (especially of the last decade) there is little-to-no unjust lambaste of Israel going on, and that very particularized and erroneous criticism of Israel’s *supposed* human-rights violations, etc. is not a huge trend, and a band-wagon many are all too eager to jump on; particularly to further their names and careers. Also, your idea that debate enriches class is only correct in cases where debate is being held on worthwhile subjects, presented in a fair way. KPO’s work sounds a lot more like an insidious justification for terrorism, rather than inquiry into “the human psyche”. Also, yes, having worked among and for Arabs, without any equal measure of time and care for Israelis, makes it highly suspect whether he would, or even could, present any kind of accurate and balanced account or exploration. Speaking hypothetically, would you seriously defend the ‘work’ of a professor who taught a course on trying to understand the psyche of KKK members, and why they believe and do what they do – particularly if it also drew in African-Americans etc. as somehow involved or culpable? I doubt it, or that any institution would either. This whole situation is a farce and a travesty, but not for the reasons you or he (maybe you’re one-in-the-same) put forward. This is a mockery of actual scholarship and learning, and instead an exercise in how far education can be warped to serve the purpose of hate-mongering and bigotry toward the Jewish people, and the only (highly progressive) democracy within the entire Mideast – Israel! In the brilliant words of the Israeli-Jewish statesman, Abba Eban: “Arabs never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Their insistence on victim-status, rabid hatred of Jewish people and Israel, as well as submission to cruel and corrupt dictators is not the making of Israel, the Jewish people, or anything other than their own doing, or that of their abusive brethren who often whip them into a frenzy just to distract from their own wrong-doing….
[...] Petersen-Overton with his own response: Joking aside, there are a number of issues at stake here that clearly resonate far beyond my [...]
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An academic environment should have a free and more tolerance on differing views and ideas where different points of views are entertained. Doing this even those are teachers learning from students and students learn not only from teachers but also from a fellow students. Brookly College has a very good reputation for its objectivity and educational values it pursuit. You may dismiss one teacher because of his political stands but you are losing the Academic Freedom you upholder for long time. Therefore, I strongly recommend to you to change your decision and let Kristofer Petersen-Overton to continue his work.
Many non-Jewish students feel their is a priority given to Jewish students, but that conversation happens behind closed doors. Whenever there is an issue that is considered anti-Jew/ Israel it is given the highest importance, but other issues of racism/ discrimination with other cultures are not taken as seriously. Don’t get me started on the priority that some Jewish Professors give towards their Jewish students and give them As solely because they are Jewish (I dare you to ask any 5 random Jewish student @ B.C. about this). Then there is the B.C. Hillel, which says it promotes “pluralism” according to their website, but when is the last time you saw a person of another ethnic group at an Hillel event for any of the Jewish Clubs that are housed there????? As an Ethiopian Jews, I have experienced first hand the racism against Black Brooklyn College Jews of Ethiopian and African-American descent and it all gets swept under the rug : ( So the firing of Professor Petersen-Overton does not surprise me at all. Hopefully now some of these other issues may come to light!
[...] sympathetic to Palestinians. In an opinion piece for the CUNY Graduate Center’s newspaper, Petersen-Overton wrote: In the blink of an eye, I have been denied tuition remission, access to subsidized health care for [...]