Columbia University Professor Franke Resigns Over Her Support for Palestine
Katherine Franke, a law professor at Columbia University, has announced her resignation from her professional position, stating that she had reached an agreement with the university, which had become a "toxic and hostile environment" for her.
Franke, who was a tenured law professor at the university, was being investigated for her support of pro-Palestinian students following anti-war protests on campus in the spring of 2024.
She also mentioned that she was under investigation for comments she made about students who had served in the Israeli military, which led to accusations of anti-Semitism. These issues placed her in a controversial situation in the university’s view.
She described her resignation as "a termination dressed up in more palatable terms."
Meanwhile, the nonprofit organization "Center for Constitutional Rights," which works on constitutional rights, called it "an egregious attack" on both academic freedom and advocacy for Palestinian rights.
In response, a university spokesperson stated, "We are committed to creating a community that is welcoming to all, and our policies prohibit discrimination and harassment."
