ALUMS FOR CAMPUS FAIRNESS CONGRATULATES OBERLIN COLLEGE FOR DISMISSING JOY KAREGA NOV. 16, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ALUMS FOR CAMPUS FAIRNESS FIRST BROUGHT JOY KAREGA’S POSTS TO OBERLIN COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS WHO DISMISSED HER ON NOVEMBER 16, 2016

(NEW YORK, November 16, 2016) – Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF) congratulates Oberlin College for taking a strong stand against anti-Semitism by today dismissing Joy Karega, Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition from her position.

It was ACF’s Oberlin Chapter, led by Chapter President, Professor Melissa Landa, that first brought these very disturbing anti-Semitic social media posts to light and notified Oberlin’s administration of their existence.

The Oberlin Board of Trustees dismissed her, following several months of review and investigation.  The Board indicated that it took this action after extended review and based on the recommendations of many faculty committees and Oberlin President Martin Krislov.

We understand that this type of consequence is not one that any school imposes easily or lightly.  But the reports indicate that Professor Karega refused to acknowledge any wrongdoing or to participate in a process whereby she might have helped heal the wounds she inflicted through her posts. All campus communities, including Jewish and pro-Israel students and faculty, have a right to a campus free from bias, and we are grateful that the Oberlin administration and faculty took a strong stand.

Alumni are important members of their campus communities with a unique role to play in insuring that their alma maters are safe places for all.  ACF empowers alumni to address anti-Semitism and anti-Israel bias at their alma maters, and promotes freedom of expression for all members of the campus community.

Alumni for Campus Fairness (ACF) was founded in 2014 by fellow Vassar alums Mark Banschick, Laurie Josephs and Susan Julien-Levitt.  In partnership with StandWithUs, ACF has organized 16 alumni chapters, including at Vassar College, Oberlin College, Columbia University, New York University, UCLA, UC Davis, and Brown University.

To learn more about ACF and its mission, become a member, or join/start a chapter, visit www.campusfairness.org.