During the fall semester of 2016, pressure on UC Berkeley administrators from off campus organizations resulted in the suspension of a student led course on Palestine – Ethnic Studies 198: Palestine: A Settler Colonial Analysis.
The cancellation of the course was a violation of free speech and academic freedom and raised a number of questions about governance and procedure at the university. This marks the second time that an anti-Palestinian organization has attempted to cancel a student led course on Palestine at the UC system.
After strong pushback from students, faculty, lawyers, and academic associations, the course was formally reinstated on September 19th, 2016.
Relevant links regarding the issue are below:
Pressure letter led by AMCHA Initiative and other groups
Statement by students of Ethnic Studies 198
Middle East Studies Association Letter
California Scholars for Academic Freedom Letter
Palestine Legal Statement on Reinstatement of Ethnic Studies 198