Academic Aunties Fear, Heartbreak, Betrayal
Apr 2, 2025
Shaista Patel, an Assistant Professor of Ethnic Studies at UC San Diego, and Nisha Nath, the podcast's producer and an activist, dive into the alarming climate of fear and repression in higher education. They discuss recent cases of students imprisoned for their political beliefs and the troubling shift in university ideologies toward the right. The duo highlights the contrast between the resilience of Palestinian scholars and the systemic challenges faced in American academia, urging solidarity amid rising xenophobia and the need for genuine support in educational spaces.
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Dramatic Abductions of Academics
- Mahmoud Khalil was apprehended on Columbia University property for his opposition to the genocide of Palestinians.
- This abduction is part of a troubling trend where students and academics face political persecution in the U.S.
Open Racism Emerges in Academia
- Racism and white supremacy have become overt in university faculty since October 7th, 2023.
- Faculty who once masked these biases now openly express them, evidencing a shift in academic culture.
Betrayal and Loss of Humanity
- There is a heartbreaking betrayal by colleagues who once championed social justice but now refuse to support students.
- This erasure of humanity and strict adherence to policies without kindness mark the current academic climate.