Commentary: Academic Freedom Does Not Protect the Promotion of Propaganda

August 25, 2023 1 min read

1 Comment

Darius Gross
Princeton Tory

Excerpt: In recent weeks, controversy has arisen surrounding an upcoming course in Princeton’s Near Eastern Studies (NES) Department for its inclusion of a book on its sample reading list that claims the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) deliberately cripples Palestinians.

While free speech protections are vital to the University and the book’s removal should not be the first response in a case like this, that does not mean anything goes. A piece of work that has sparked academic scandal must be thoughtfully studied in that context. If Prof. Larson refuses to acknowledge the plethora of scholarship critical of Puar’s book and its unfounded allegations, then she will have strayed from the University’s truth-seeking purpose, and removal of the work as Steinlauf has urged may prove necessary.

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1 Response

John Claster
John Claster

October 12, 2023

What might be a productive initiative would be for Professor Larson to invite the Israeli minister who wrote to President Eisgruber to speak to her class. Clearly she would have to caution the class to be respectful during his presentation.

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