In recent months, George Washington University (GWU) has been embroiled in a controversy involving accusations of antisemitism against Lara Sheehi, a psychology professor at the university. The allegations were brought by a pro-Israel group, StandWithUs, which claimed that Sheehi had made anti-Semitic comments in class and had brought in a guest speaker who shared anti-Zionist views. After a thorough investigation, conducted by an independent third party, the university has cleared Sheehi of any wrongdoing.
Allegations and Investigation
The allegations against Sheehi were serious and prompted an investigation by the university. According to the complaint filed by StandWithUs, Jewish students alleged that Sheehi made them feel unsafe and demeaned them by twisting their words. They claimed that they were left crying, on antidepressants, and feeling psychologically impacted by the professor’s behaviour. Some of the specific complaints included that Sheehi publicly berated a student for using the term “terrorist attack” and justified violence against civilians in Israel.
The investigation into these allegations found no evidence to support them. The report noted that “Sheehi repeatedly acknowledged the students’ feelings, gave the students space to express their concerns, and denounced antisemitism as a real and present danger”. The investigators also found no evidence that the discourse crossed the line into antisemitic speech.
Reaction to Investigation Results
The university endorsed the findings of the investigation and will continue to work closely with Jewish and Arab communities. However, pro-Israel groups have used the US Department of Education’s civil rights office to file numerous complaints against universities for Israel-related speech they have claimed is anti-Semitic. In response to these complaints, some universities have adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism. This definition has been criticised as an attempt to suppress free speech, with some arguing that it conflates criticism of Israel with antisemitism.
StandWithUs criticised the university’s position and accused them of discrimination against the students who raised concerns. The group has been vocal in its support for Israel and has filed similar complaints against other universities that it claims are promoting anti-Semitic behaviour. However, the investigation criticised StandWithUs for having an “expansive view” of antisemitism that could infringe on free speech principles and academic freedom.
GWU and Discrimination
This is not the first time GWU has been at the centre of a controversy involving alleged discrimination. Palestinian students and staff members have claimed that the school has discriminated against them based on “national origin discrimination.” Additionally, there have been allegations of anti-Semitism on campus, including graffiti outside the campus Hillel and a damaged imitation Torah at a Jewish fraternity.
In conclusion, Sheehi has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent third party investigation into allegations of antisemitism brought by a pro-Israel group. While some groups have criticised the university’s response to these allegations, others have praised their promotion of free speech principles and academic freedom. Regardless of where one stands on this issue, it is clear that GWU is committed to addressing issues related to discrimination and will continue to work closely with all communities involved.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
