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Professor Richard Himelfarb believes he has a ‘target on his back’ because he is conservative
Hofstra University Professor Richard Himelfarb is facing an internal harassment investigation this summer for referring to a colleague’s proposal for two new Jewish studies courses as “word salad.” He believes he has a “target on his back” because he is conservative.
The harassment complaint came from Professor Santiago Slabodsky, chair of the Jewish studies program, who proposed the courses during a faculty meeting on Nov. 3, 2025. Slabodsky, who has an accent, alleges Himelfarb’s comments were discriminatory and violated his civil rights.
Himelfarb agreed to apologize but, in May, learned that his university’s Harassment Review Board began investigating him.
In an exclusive phone interview with The College Fix last week, the political science professor said it was apparent to him that Slabodsky’s proposed courses had very “little Jewish anything” in them.
Himelfarb told The Fix he is one of the few out of the closet conservative professors at Hofstra, a private research university in New York. He also described himself as a “full-throated Zionist.”
He said a lot of people on his campus, including faculty, dislike him for being conservative, and he believes he has a “target on his back.”
What’s more, he believes the six faculty witnesses named in the complaint against him were probably “progressives” with views in line with activists on campus.
Meanwhile, the Foundation for Individuals Rights and Expression recently sent a letter urging Hofstra leaders to drop the investigation against Himelfarb.
In a June 5 letter to Vice President of HR Denise Cunningham, the free speech advocacy group argued that Himelfarb’s comments are protected speech.
The letter also cited Hofstra’s accreditor, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which requires the school to “possess[] and demonstrate[] … a commitment to academic freedom, intellectual freedom, freedom of expression.”
FIRE argued that holding a hearing seven months after Himelfarb’s comments occurred also violates the accreditor’s grievance policy, which requires prompt action on such matters.
It urged the university to end the investigation into Himelfarb without imposing any punishment.
FIRE senior counsel Haley Gluhanich told The Fix in a June 10 email that the university has been “unwilling to engage” and she could not comment on pending administrative matters.
However, Ghulanich also said that a ruling against Himelfarb would “not be good for the overall culture of free speech on the campus.”
University spokesperson Terry Coniglio confirmed to The Fix via email Monday that the investigation is on-going.
“Hofstra is reviewing this matter according to established procedure. No final determination has been made,” Coniglio said.
The Fix also contacted Slabodsky on June 10 to ask for his perspective on the situation. The Fix received an automated email response stating he was out of reach until Aug. 31 due to “travelling for research and lecturing commitments.”
The conflict between the two professors goes back to a November faculty meeting where Slabodsky proposed two new Jewish studies courses.
One course, “Religion and Revolution,” would have taught about the “relationship between religion and revolutionary movements in Latin America and its dialogues across the world.” The other, “Conspiracy Theories,” would have focused on the origins of conspiracies and their link to Jews, Muslims, and other groups, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education report.
In the complaint, Slabodsky alleged that a “small group argued that my two new courses ‘did not have enough Jewish content,'” an accusation that he called “factually incorrect.”
“During the discussion, it became evident that the intent was to undermine my expertise and to block approval of the courses,” the complaint alleges.
Slabodsky alleged that Himelfarb “dismissed my detailed explanations by saying that he could not understand ‘the word salad’ of what I was saying, impugning not only my language ability but also my sense and clarity.”
The discrimination “has resulted in concrete harm to my professional standing, the academic programs I direct, and the entire” faculty, he alleged in the complaint.
Slabodsky claimed Himelfarb’s comments discriminated against his accent, native language, and Latino identity in violation of Title VII, according to a copy of the complaint that Himelfarb provided to The Fix.
However, Himelfarb told The Fix that, during the November meeting, Slabodsky defended his courses by saying he didn’t want to look at the issues within “the narrow Jewish experience.” He claimed Slabodsky then filibustered the meeting.
In February, Himelfarb said he had a meeting with Vice President of Human Resources Denise Cunningham where he was told they were going forward with the case. He claimed to never have been told the basis of the investigation, but, during the meeting, he offered to apologize to Slabodsky.
His apology, sent to Cunningham on April 30, said, in part: “I never intended to impugn Dr. Slabodsky’s accent or native language. I sincerely apologize that he understood my remarks this way and humbly request his forgiveness.”
On May 8, however, Himelfarb said Cunningham told him that Slabodsky rejected his apology and brought the matter up to the university Harassment Review Board.
Himelfarb said he could lose his job over his comments, and he has lost faith in the honesty and integrity of Hofstra’s administration.
In his phone interview with The Fix, he said the “process [has been] the punishment.” He said he has had to deal with the situation for 10 months as a cloud over his head.
He also talked about the chilling effect it has had on free speech on campus. He said the investigation against him sends a message that other faculty better not disagree, otherwise they could be threatened with a harassment complaint and possible job loss.
When asked if he plans on suing the university, Himelfarb said he is “keeping his options open.”
He also said that no one from in his union, the American Association of University Professors, has reached out to help him or stand up for academic freedom.
The Hofstra AAUP did not respond to The Fix’s email last week asking for comment about Himelfarb’s case and its possible involvement.
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