The Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University is undergoing a significant change as two of its key leaders, director Cemal Kafadar and associate director Rosie Bsheer, are stepping down from their positions. This news comes amidst allegations of an anti-Israel bias within the department and increased scrutiny on the university as a whole regarding accusations of antisemitism.
According to reports from The Harvard Crimson, the student newspaper, the departures of Kafadar and Bsheer were confirmed by David Cutler, the interim dean of Social Science. While both professors have not publicly commented on the situation, faculty members close to them believe that they were forced to resign.
The University has been facing pressure from various sources, including alumni, the federal government, and conservative groups, to address issues of diversity and intellectual freedom on campus. In response to these concerns, Hopi Hoekstra, the dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, sent a letter to all center heads asking for proposals on how to enhance intellectual diversity and promote respectful dialogue across controversial topics.
The departure of Kafadar and Bsheer is seen as a concerning development by the executive committee of Harvard’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors. They condemned the decision as a capitulation to external pressures and a threat to academic freedom. Asli Bali, the president of the Middle East Studies Association, expressed similar concerns, warning that bending to government demands could have detrimental effects on Middle East programs at universities.
The situation at Harvard comes in the wake of Columbia University’s recent agreement to government demands regarding its Middle East, South Asian, and African Studies department. The decision to place these programs under review has sparked controversy and led to the replacement of the university president.
Overall, the events at Harvard and Columbia highlight the challenges faced by international students and scholars studying the Middle East. The pressure to conform to external demands and the potential impact on academic freedom are issues that universities will need to navigate carefully in the coming months.
