Digital Content Associate, MESA Academic Freedom Initiative
MESA
The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is seeking a part-time contractor to create digital content for its Academic Freedom Initiative.
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Launching MESA’s Academic Freedom Initiative
MESA has been building out the Academic Freedom Initiative (AFI), a project funded by the Mellon Foundation, to identify and track trends regarding academic freedom and repression on campuses across North America. Two initial datasets focus on recent immigration actions affecting higher education, and adverse employment outcomes for university employees since October 2023.
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MESA Advocacy Resource Center
MESA's Task Force has created a new advocacy resource center for our members to consult in response to the repression of rights on campuses across North America and beyond.
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Call for Applications: 2026-27 Membership Institute for Advance Study - School of Historical Studies
Institute for Advanced Study - School of Historical Studies
The Institute for Advanced Study School of Historical Studies invites scholars to apply for 2026-27 membership
Assistant Professor in the history of Arab Migration, Mobility and Diaspora
Khayrallah Center/North Carolina State University
The Department of History and the Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies at North Carolina State University invite applications to fill the Akram Khater Distinguished Professorship in Arab Migration Studies. We invite applicants for a tenure-track appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the history of Arab Migration, Mobility and Diaspora, beginning August 2026.
Letter to San José State University regarding the termination of Professor Sang Hea Kil
Our letter expressing concern at the decision of the San José State University (SJSU) administration to terminate the employment of Professor Sang Hea Kil, a tenured member of the Department of Justice Studies, due to alleged violations of university time, manner and place rules.
MESA Files Amicus Brief in Harvard Lawsuit Challenging Federal Funding Cuts
MESA has filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Harvard University in its federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s funding cuts.
Letter to George Washington University protesting the administration’s actions against graduating senior Cecilia Culver because of remarks she made about Palestine during her commencement address
Our letter expressing concern about the decision of the administration of the George Washington University to ban graduating senior Cecilia Culver from campus and threaten to investigate her for possible student conduct code violations.
Letter to New York University concerning its decision to withhold the degree of graduating senior Logan Rozos and initiate disciplinary proceedings against him
Our letter expressing concern about the decision of NYU to withhold the diploma of graduating senior Logan Rozos and subject him to disciplinary action because of remarks he made about Israel’s war on Gaza during the recent graduation ceremony of the Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Federal Court Says First Amendment Bars Government From Deporting Students and Faculty on Basis of Political Viewpoint, Says Challenge to Trump Policy Can Go Forward
A federal judge has ruled that the case of AAUP v. Rubio can move forward. The lawsuit alleges that the administration’s ideological-deportation policy violates the First Amendment by targeting constitutionally protected speech that Americans have a right to hear and engage with.
Letter to the University of Notre Dame expressing concern over the cancellation of a keynote lecture by Professor Eman Abdelhadi
Our letter condemning the last-minute cancellation of a keynote lecture that was to be given by Professor Eman Abdelhadi, purportedly on grounds of security.
Letter to the University of Colorado-Boulder expressing concern about the university’s failure to respond adequately to a physical assault against students
Our letter expressing concern about the University of Colorado-Boulder’s apparent failure to meaningfully respond to a physical assault committed on campus against students advocating for Palestinian rights
Letter to Yale University regarding the termination of Dr. Helyeh Doutaghi
Our letter expressing concern about the termination of Dr. Helyeh Doutaghi, deputy director of Yale University’s Law and Political Economy Project and associate research scholar at Yale Law School, in the wake of allegations made on an obscure website whose founders and contributors are anonymous
Knight Institute Asks Court to Block Trump Policy of Deporting Students and Faculty for Lawful Speech: AAUP and Middle East Studies Association say policy clearly violates the First Amendment
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Middle East Studies Association (MESA) today filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in their lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from carrying out large-scale arrests, detentions, and deportations of noncitizen students and faculty members who participate in pro-Palestinian protests and other protected First Amendment activities.
Letter to Harvard University protesting the dismissals of the director and associate director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies
Our letter expressing concern about Harvard University’s decision to remove Professor Cemal Kafadar and Associate Professor Rosie Bsheer as, respectively, director and associate director of the university’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies
MESA, AAUP, and Knight Institute file lawsuit over Trump policy of arresting and threatening deportation for lawful speech
The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) today filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from carrying out large-scale arrests, detentions, and deportations of noncitizen students and faculty members who participate in pro-Palestinian protests and other protected First Amendment activities.
Letter to the leadership of Columbia University urging it to reject the Trump administration’s ultimatum of 13 March 2025 and stand firm in defense of academic freedom & the university’s independence
Our letter expressing outrage about the letter dated 13 March 2025 that was sent to you by three Trump administration officials, and to urge you to respond in a principled and forceful manner to the unprecedented, unacceptable and extreme demands that it sets forth
Letter to the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture regarding its cancellation of a planned special journal issue on Palestine
Our letter expressing concern about the decision of the Board of Directors of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture to cancel a planned issue of the Journal of Architectural Education (JAE) focused on Palestine. We are equally disturbed by the board’s termination of JAE Interim Executive Editor McLain Clutter for protesting this decision.
Letter to NY Governor Hochul and leaders of the City University of New York regarding the Palestinian Studies position at Hunter College
Our letter expressing grave concern about Governor Hochul’s unprecedented demand that Hunter College of the City University of New York (CUNY) take down a posted advertisement for a new open-rank position in the field of Palestinian Studies
Letter to MIT expressing concern about the decision not to allow Professor Michel DeGraff to teach a course relating to Palestine in Fall 2024
Our letter expressing concern about the decision of MIT’s Department of Linguistics and Philosophy to deny Professor Michel DeGraff permission to offer a proposed course on language, linguistics and decolonization in Israel/Palestine
Letter to Emory University regarding the suspension of Umaymah Mohammad for exercising her right to free speech
Our letter expressing concern about the suspension of Umaymah Mohammad, a student from the Emory University School of Medicine, for a statement that she made during a media interview that was deemed in violation of the student code of conduct.
Letter to the Columbia University Senate calling on it to investigate the Office of Institutional Equity’s treatment of Professor Katherine Franke
Our letter expressing concern about the flawed disciplinary proceedings involving Dr. Katherine Franke and the circumstances surrounding her “retirement.”
Letter to New York University regarding its arbitrary repressive actions toward faculty and students
Our letter expressing concern about recent actions that have exacerbated the climate of repression on campus
Response from Cornell to our 26 November letter
The Committee on Academic Freedom received a response from the Interim President of Cornell University in response to our 26 November letter regarding a course proposal developed by Dr. Eric Cheyfitz
Letter to the Interim President of Cornell University regarding his criticism of an approved course proposal
Our letter expressing concern about the negative comments recently made regarding a course proposal developed by Dr. Eric Cheyfitz