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Clarification on Palestinian studies position at Hunter College
1:11:34
·
126 sec
Council Member Restler expresses concerns about the handling of a Palestinian studies position at Hunter College, particularly regarding academic freedom. Senior Vice Chancellor Owen provides clarification on the situation.
- The position for Palestinian studies at Hunter College still exists
- The concern was with the content of the job posting, which was found to be divisive
- A new job posting will be created with the same title
- The issue was not about having a Palestinian studies position, but rather how it was described in the original posting
Eric Dinowitz
1:12:30
Pardon me.
1:12:31
Oh.
1:12:32
Oh, just beat me to it.
1:12:35
Okay.
1:12:35
Yes.
1:12:36
I'd like to swear you in.
1:12:37
Yes.
1:12:39
I'm not gonna memorize it.
1:12:41
You wanna do it, Hector?
1:12:47
I got this.
1:12:48
You already have half of it with your right hand raised.
1:12:51
Do affirm to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in your testimony before this committee and to respond honestly to council members' questions?
1:12:59
Thank you.
1:13:00
And you stated your name for the record?
1:13:03
Thank you.
Hector Batista
1:12:19
I'm gonna turn it over to Sasha Almasas, our vice Thank
Sascha Owen
1:12:24
you, council member, for the question.
1:12:26
I the the the just to be clear and maybe
1:12:34
Just joining, hopping in.
1:12:40
Sorry, council member.
1:12:41
Thank you.
1:12:59
I do.
1:13:02
Sasha Owen.
1:13:04
Thank you, council member.
1:13:05
Good to see you.
1:13:06
I didn't know you had a baby.
1:13:07
Muscle stuff.
1:13:11
The position is going to is still existent at Hunter.
1:13:16
It was the content of the posting that the chancellor and others had found to be divisive.
1:13:24
But there will be a new job posting.
1:13:29
I believe the title is the same.
1:13:30
Yeah.
1:13:30
There will be a new yes.
1:13:38
That is correct.
Lincoln Restler
1:11:34
I was concerned about the decision around the at Hunter College and the and the professor that I believe was being recruited for Palestinian studies.
1:11:50
I would like just to hear a clear explanation for why that position was is no longer being sought after.
1:11:59
For me, it was a I was really concerned about freedom of speech and freedom of thought and why we wouldn't I think it's a beautiful thing for us to be learning about Israeli studies and Palestinian studies and and all backgrounds.
1:12:12
And I would the way that this was handled was really concerning to me, and so I'd just like to understand a little bit better.
1:13:26
Is the title for the position the same?
1:13:32
So the concern was in the content for how the position was described, not that there shouldn't be a position for Palestinian studies at Hunter College.
1:13:39
Okay.
1:13:39
That's helpful.
1:13:40
I appreciate it.