Tracing the Attacks on Higher Education from Palestine to Present

Session Type: Workshop

Abstract

In the wake of the 2023–2024 campus protests over Palestine and the Israel–Gaza conflict, higher education institutions across the United States have found themselves at the center of escalating political and ideological battles. What began as localized controversies around student activism, academic speech, and institutional neutrality has evolved into a coordinated and sustained assault on the autonomy, integrity, and democratic mission of higher education. This workshop examines how these attacks have unfolded—from legislative measures targeting DEI programs and academic freedom, to donor and political pressure campaigns seeking to control curricula and university leadership—and explores the broader implications for faculty, students, and the public good.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Teachers Work/Teacher Unions

Chair

• Dana Morrison, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Participants

• Denisha Jones, Defending the Early Years

• Erin Lee Dyke, Oklahoma State University

Session Organizer

• Denisha Jones, Defending the Early Years

Discussant

• Brianne Kramer, Southern Utah University