A University of Toronto professor reportedly refused to provide career advice to a graduate student because the student is a supporter of Israel.
Ari Blaff, who is aiming to get his master鈥檚 degree in global affairs, in Quillette that in December he asked Jens Hanssen, who teaches Middle Eastern and Mediterranean History at the university, in an email if he could pick his brain about 鈥淢iddle Eastern history and academia鈥� since he was looking into getting a doctorate degree in Middle Eastern studies.
Hanssen replied that he would not provide any advice to Blaff because of his involvement with Hasbara Fellowships.
鈥淎s far as I know, Hasbara fellows are Israeli advocacy activists sent to North American campuses on behalf of the World Union of 91传媒 Students, now under the auspices of the new Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy, which earlier this year has called for a 鈥榥ew offensive against Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions鈥� activists,鈥� Hanssen wrote.
Hanssen proceeded to accuse Blaff of 鈥渟landering鈥� people in an article he had written on Hasbara鈥檚 blog and that he鈥檚 being 鈥渋nstructed to conflate Judaism and Zionism and are encouraged to give the impression that such criticism constitute anti-Semitism.鈥�
Therefore, Hanssen argued that Blaff poses a 鈥済rave threat鈥� to 鈥渁cademic freedom鈥� and consequently, he would not engage with Blaff in any way, shape or form.
Blaff responded by saying he still wanted to get his perspective on how to succeed in the world of Middle East academia even if they had differences of opinion; Hanssen never responded.
鈥淭he more I reflected upon my exchange with Hanssen, the more irritated I became,鈥� Blaff said. 鈥淎 young student seeking career advice had approached a professor in good faith and received a broadside indicting his political views, nationality, and loyalty. This was not some off-the-cuff remark鈥攊t was a 300-word message which Hanssen had typed and stamped with his own name.鈥�
After winter break, Blaff filed a complaint to the university against Hanssen; in August, the university told him that they found Hanssen鈥檚 response to Blaff to be overly harsh, which Hanssen acknowledged, but only after initially accusing Blaff of using his email as a way to 鈥渆ntrap鈥� him.
However, the university concluded that Hanssen鈥檚 response was not 鈥渄iscriminatory on the grounds of religion or nationality.鈥� Blaff has yet to receive a formal apology from the university or Hanssen on the matter.
鈥淢y story suggests that concerns like mine are subject to a double-standard,鈥� Blaff wrote. 鈥淗ad an Afro-Canadian or LGBTQ student faced similar treatment, I believe the university鈥檚 administration would not have tolerated a professor鈥檚 excuses, notwithstanding his belated contrition. But nearly a decade on Ontario campuses has taught me that this is par for the course.鈥�
A university spokesperson Canadian 91传媒 91传媒 (CJN) that the university 鈥渋s committed to eliminating anti-Semitism, racism and faith-based discrimination in all its forms.鈥�
鈥淲e are also committed to the fundamental principles of free expression and open discourse in our community, provided that it remains respectful and complies with the laws and policies that protect members of our community from discrimination,鈥� the spokesperson added.
Robert Walker, the director of Hasbara Fellowship in Canada, told CJN that Hasbara is privately funded, as it was started by Aish HaTorah in 2001.
鈥淥ur mandate is to empower pro-Israel students so they may tell the truth about Israel on campus and combat the senseless misinformation peddled by BDS activists,鈥� Walker the Toronto Sun.
Michael Mostyn, the president of B鈥檔ai Brith, told the Sun that Hanssen鈥檚 response 鈥渋s proof of the corrosive and anti-Semitic impact that the BDS movement is having on university campuses.鈥�
鈥淒evotees of the movement have regressed from boycotting the 91传媒 State to boycotting 91传媒 institutions and now to boycotting individual 91传媒 students,鈥� Mostyn said.
University of Toronto Professor Jordan Peterson told the Journal in an email, “Welcome to the new world of compassionate leftist anti-Semitism.”
According to , Hanssen signed a petition in 2014 calling for Middle East scholars 鈥渘ot to collaborate on projects and events involving Israeli academic institutions, not to teach at or to attend conferences and other events at such institutions, and not to publish in academic journals based in Israel.鈥� He also moderated an event in 2010 that featured Omar Barghouti, the founder of BDS.
Both the university and Hanssen have not responded to the Journal鈥檚 requests for comment at publication time.
