A professor has come under scrutiny by an education watchdog group for incorporating anti-Israel stances in his classes and frequently lobbying his colleagues to do the same.
Emails sent by professors at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Illinois, were made public this week by a freedom of information act request submitted by Defending Education.
The bulk of the emails released were penned by Jeffrey McCully, an associate professor of sociology, who strongly encouraged his colleagues to support the anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement — including in the classroom — according to the emails, sent in 2023.
He encouraged his peers to “decolonize the classroom” because it is “essential in promoting a more equitable and informed discussion of Palestinian liberation.”
“Engaging in BDS can be a powerful way for the college to take a principled stance on social justice and human rights,” McCully also wrote. “By endorsing BDS in support of Palestinian liberation, the college aligns itself with a global movement advocating for the rights and self-determination of Palestinians.”
McCully added “this will not only demonstrate solidarity with an important social justice issue but also underscores the institution’s commitment to ethical investment practices and responsible global citizenship.”
The professor also wrote that “enhancing funding for social, educational, and political programming on campus is crucial for fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment that promotes Palestinian liberation.” This will raise awareness for the Palestinian cause, according to his email.
McCully wrote he hopes to “increase the number of minority full time tenure track faculty… including those who are knowledgeable about Palestinian liberation,” as this will enrich “the college workplace with diverse perspectives and experiences” and “provide role models for students who may have a personal or academic interest in the Palestinian struggle.”
The College Fix reached out to McCully multiple times, but he has not responded as of yet.
The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement calls for boycotting all businesses that have a relationship with Israel.
Copies of McCully’s emails are available on Defending Education’s website.
“Anti-Israel activism isn’t unique to the Ivies – it’s permeated state schools and community colleges alike,” said Nicole Neily, president of Defending Education, in a statement to The College Fix.
“McCully’s concerns for student safety ring hollow given his efforts to engage colleagues in his political activism, as well as his proud display of an ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ poster in his classroom days after Hamas murdered women and children.”
Additional topics by McCully is a suggestion that the college release a statement about “academic freedom to discuss the history of military occupation in Palestine” to show that the school values “free and open inquiry.” This “sends a clear message that diverse perspectives and critical examination of contentious topics are valued,” the email reads.
In an email sent on Dec. 11, 2023, McCully mentioned a strike to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
“Please note that some of our students may be participating in the call to action by withholding labor, missing school, and not shopping,” he wrote.
“The aim of this email is to encourage faculty to accommodate students who feel the need to participate, especially as a means to persevere through their experiences of profound trauma, in this strike and provide them with the opportunity to make up their final exams,” McCully wrote.
In another email, McCully argued the matter was not political because it deals with “human rights abuses, not politics.”
His emails do not mention any support for the people of Israel.
“Everyone should feel safe on campus,” McCully wrote, “but right now, in this moment, it’s the Palestinian people … who are experiencing the horrors of ethnic cleansing and genocide.”
“…I think a chemistry class could be an amazing time to talk about Israel’s use of white phosphorus, skunk water, tear gas, and other such weapons used against Palestinian civilians, including children,” McCully wrote in an email to his colleagues.
In response, an academic counselor wrote that “what is happening in Gaza is horrifying and on-going.” Additionally, the counselor wrote, “I really do hope faculty will be accommodating for any student who needs to step out for any reason, especially one as extreme as what is happening in Gaza.”
A few professors disagreed and asked that McCully refrain from sending them political emails in the future.
One professor said, “I am here to teach chemistry and to support my students in their learning process in any way that I can. I sincerely hope that there are others on the Counseling Staff who have equal empathy for our Jewish students who are traumatized by the terrorist attack on Oct. 7th.”
The College Fix reached out to the Moraine Valley Community College media department and requested a statement, but have received no response.
MORE: Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia occupy library, 78 arrested, two officers injured
IMAGE CAPTION AND CREDIT: A visual of clashing Israeli and Palestinian flags / YouTube screenshot
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