For Immediate Release
March 11, 2025
Statement by United University Professions President Frederick E. Kowal on a list of 60 campuses under investigation by the U.S. Education Department
“College and university campuses are sanctuaries of freedom of thought and expression, regardless of whether we support or oppose those statements of free speech. United University Professions will always stand for freedom of thought, freedom of expression and the right to free speech on SUNY campuses and all higher education institutions across New York state and the nation.
“This is why our union rejects, in the strongest possible terms, the issuance of a list of 60 universities under investigation by the U.S. Education Department for alleged antisemitic harassment and discrimination. Included on this list are three SUNY campuses. Such a list smacks of McCarthy-era blacklisting and that is something we cannot and will not stand for.
“UUP has a long history of opposing and speaking out against antisemitism in all of its ugliness, including violence, harassment, hatred and discrimination. This union will always stand against any and all instances of antisemitism on our campuses.
“However, we do not condone the Education Department’s heavy-handed, authoritarian method of addressing the situation by publicly naming campuses and threatening them with enforcement actions and revocation of public funding. There are many other, better ways of addressing this situation than by using it as a hammer against freedom of speech for political gain.
“UUP also opposes the arrest of Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, who was taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement despite being a legal permanent resident with a green card and whose wife is an American citizen. We are heartened by a March 10 ruling by a federal judge who temporarily blocked Khalil’s deportation and we trust Khalil’s due process rights—due him as a legal permanent resident of the United States—are afforded to him.”
