Oberlin Fires Professor Who Spewed Anti-Semitic Conspiracy Theories

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By Forward Staff November 16, 2016

Oberlin College has fired Joy Karega, a professor who created a firestorm of controversy with anti-Semitic posts on social media and by espousing conspiracy theories.

The Ohio school’s board and President Marvin Krislov said in a statement that Karega, an assistant professor of rhetoric and composition, would be dismissed effective immediately after a lengthy hearing process.

“Karega violated the fundamental responsibilities of Oberlin faculty members to ‘accept the obligation to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending and transmitting knowledge’ and to ‘practice intellectual honesty,’” the college said, quoting an academic code of conduct.

The Board of Trustees said Karega’s postings had “irreparably impaired (her) ability to perform her duties as a scholar, a teacher, and a member of the community.”

Karega said in a Facebook post that the decision wasn’t surprising because of what she called “persecution, incompetent leadership, and discrimination from Oberlin,” according to a local newspaper.

She said she plans to fight the decision.

“There will be a challenge and defense of my rights, using ALL the avenues I have available to me — litigation, public, etc.,” the post read. “The pathway for that has already been laid.”

The storm over Karega erupted in March when she made controversial posts, some of which blamed the Sept. 11 attacks on Israel or the Jews.

Krislov drew fire for defending Karega’s rights to free speech and academic freedom. But the college also vowed to investigate whether the remarks violated its codes of conduct.

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