Moraine Valley Community College professor encourages implementing anti-Israel BDS movement into classes; counselor told staff to “accommodate students” who want to participate in anti-Israel protest

Defending Education submitted a public records request to the Moraine Valley Community College seeking emails from staff regarding Israel and the ongoing war with Hamas. In an email dated November 6, 2023, associate professor of sociology Jeffrey McCully provided other staff with notes before a meeting. His notes explicitly encouraged support for “endorsing BDS in support of Palestinian liberation.” BDS stands for “Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.” This movement is considered antisemitic and calls for divesting from all businesses and relationships with Israel. This professor stated:

Engaging in BDS can be a powerful way for the college to take a principled stance on social justice and human rights. By endorsing BDS in support of Palestinian liberation, the college aligns itself with a global movement advocating for the rights and self-determination of Palestinians. This not only demonstrates solidarity with an important social justice issue but also underscores the institution’s commitment to ethical investment practices and responsible global citizenship.

He called for faculty “to decolonize the classroom” to promote “a more equitable and informed discussion of Palestinian liberation.” This professor’s email signature notably stated “name as pronoun.”

In another email dated December 12, 2023, he stated: “So, yes, everyone should feel safe on campus, but right now, in this moment, it’s the Palestinian people (regardless of their varied religions) who are experiencing the horrors of ethnic cleansing and genocide.” He then added that “a chemistry class could be an amazing time to talk about Israel’s use of white phosphorus, skunk water, tear gas, and other such weapons used against Palestinian civilians, including children.”

On December 11, 2023, a counselor, Souzan Naser, sent an email to staff claiming that “Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza facing unprecedented levels of military violence have called on the international community to support a Global Strike to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.” She also accused Israel of a “horrific genocide.” She encouraged staff to “accommodate students” who want to participate.

Another professor responded by pushing back: “I am here to teach chemistry and to support my students in their learning process in any way that I can.” This professor then stated that “I sincerely hope that there are others on the Counseling Staff who have equal empathy for our Jewish students who are traumatized by the terrorist attack on Oct 7th.”

A January 25, 2024, post on X from the account StopAntisemitism includes a video of McCully in which he states that he has “outfitted his class w/Palestinian flags, calls for Israel’s removal, & ‘Visit Palestine’.”