The Chris Hedges Report

The End of Academic Freedom (w/ Maura Finkelstein) | The Chris Hedges Report

Jul 23, 2025
Maura Finkelstein, a former tenured professor and chair of Sociology and Anthropology at Muhlenberg College, sheds light on the alarming state of academic freedom in the U.S. She discusses her own dismissal due to pro-Palestinian sentiments and the chilling effects that donor influences exert on university environments. Finkelstein argues that institutions are abandoning democratic values, becoming mere financial entities. The conversation highlights a growing surveillance culture, the manipulation of Title IX, and the urgent need for advocacy to protect free speech in academia.
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ANECDOTE

Finkelstein's Persecution Story

  • Maura Finkelstein was targeted and investigated by Muhlenberg College after a single anti-Zionist Instagram repost.
  • She faced social media harassment, monitoring by Hillel staff, and institutional complaints leading to her firing despite tenure.
INSIGHT

Donor Influence in Academia

  • Powerful donors, many Zionist, influence college policies heavily, compromising academic freedom.
  • Muhlenberg's survival depends on appeasing donors and Zionist student groups rather than protecting free thought.
INSIGHT

Weaponizing Title VI for Censorship

  • Title VI is weaponized to equate anti-Zionist speech with anti-Semitism, silencing criticism of Israel.
  • Complaints bypass faculty governance, moving into secretive Title IX/VI proceedings, eroding transparency and academic norms.
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