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Michigan Professor Rescinds Offer to Write Recommendation for Student to Study in Israel

[additional-authors]
September 18, 2018
Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

A professor at the University of Michigan is rescinding an offer he made to write a letter of recommendation for a student because she’s studying abroad in Israel.

Club Z, a Zionist Youth Organization, first posted a screenshot of an email from John Cheney-Lippold, who teaches cultural studies and Internet studies at the University of Michigan, to a student identified as Abigail Ingber. In the email, Cheney-Lippold tells Ingber that “many university departments have pledged an academic boycott against Israel,” which “includes writing letters of recommendation for students.”

“I should have let you know earlier, and for that I apologize,” Cheney-Lippold wrote. “But for reasons of these politics, I must rescind my offer to write your letter.”

The professor concluded his email by stating that he would be “happy” to write other letters of recommendation for Abigail.

https://www.facebook.com/bayarea.clubz/photos/a.1808547259372965/2379991485561870/?type=3&theater

Cheney-Lippold told the Michigan Daily that he refused to write the letter because he believes “the idea that people who are being discriminated against or people who need help … I feel compelled to help them.”

“I was following a call by representatives of Palestinian civil society to boycott Israel in a very similar tactical frame as South Africa,” Cheney-Lippold said. “The idea is that I support communities who organize themselves and ask for international support to achieve equal rights, freedom and to prevent violations of international law.”

Ingber told the Algemeiner in a note that Cheney-Lippold’s email “is very disturbing, as he is allowing his personal beliefs (and apparently those of ‘many university departments’) to interfere with my dreams of studying abroad.”

Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted that the professor’s actions were “unacceptable” and that “the University needs to publicly clarify it opposes the academic boycott of Israel.”

The University of Michigan said in a statement that they are opposed to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and that “no academic department or any other unit at the University of Michigan has taken a position that departs from this long-held university position” against an academic boycott.

“The academic goals of our students are of paramount importance. It is the university’s position to take all steps necessary to make sure our students are supported,” the statement read. “It is disappointing that a faculty member would allow their personal political beliefs to limit the support they are willing to otherwise provide for our students.”

“We will engage our faculty colleagues in deep discussions to clarify how the expression of our shared values plays out in support of all students.”

Tilly Shames, the executive director of University of Michigan Hillel, said in a statement sent to the Journal:

“University of Michigan Hillel has been actively engaged with leadership of the University to address concerns regarding a University professor’s refusal to offer a letter of recommendation to a student applying to an Israeli university. The professor’s decision is antithetical to the academic values of the university, as it denies the student their right to the education they choose. A professor’s political views should not factor into any student’s access to academic opportunities, including studying in Israel.

We appreciate the University’s serious attention to this matter. University of Michigan Hillel will continue to actively work with the Provost’s Office and University administration as they address this matter. We are engaging with our student leaders on how best to advocate and educate on this issue among our campus community.”

Attorney Alexandra Leichter wrote in a letter to the university and obtained by the Journal that it’s “appalling that the University of Michigan, which clearly voted down the abhorrent and racist BDS proposal, now issues such a mild response to Prof. Cheney-Lippold’s misdeed that it is ‘disappointed’ in Mr. Cheney’s Lippold’s action.”

“Prof. Cheney-Lippold’s conduct should be thoroughly investigated, his file should contain documentation showing this reprehensible conduct, and if his belief systems continue to prevent him from appropriately executing his duties as a Professor, he should be dismissed,” Leichter wrote. “It is a fraud on the student body to continue to accept Prof. Cheney-Lippold’s presence and similar conduct, knowing that he vets his Recommendations not on the basis of the student’s academic credentials but on the basis of the student’s belief system differing from those of the professor.”

Masha Merkulova, the executive director and founder of Club Z, told the Journal in a phone interview that the Department of Education should investigate the matter.

“[The] Department of Education has adopted [the] State Department’s definition of anti-Semitism, which includes demonizing Israel and holding Israel to a double-standard,” Merkulova said. “This is a school that receives federal funding, so I think the Department of Education should take note of this.”

Cheney-Lippold has not responded to the Journal’s request for comment.

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