Temple Board Condemns Professor Who Criticized Israel but Defends His Freedom of Speech

Temple University’s Board of Trustees on Tuesday condemned recent remarks by Marc Lamont Hill, a professor of media studies and urban education at the university, but said his speech was protected by the Constitution, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. The move appeared to rule out university punishment or investigation of Hill, who was dismissed as a CNN commentator for saying in a speech last month at the United Nations that he supported “a free Palestine from the river to the sea.”

That phrase is viewed by many observers as coded language calling for the destruction of Israel. (It refers to the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.) Hill apologized for the remarks and said it is incorrect to read them as suggesting the destruction of Israel.

Patrick O’Connor, Temple’s board chair, called Hill’s remarks “hate speech” and suggested that there could be “remedies” to respond to observers’ anger over them. That prompted the tenured professor’s supporters to fear that Temple might discipline him. But at its meeting on Tuesday the board defended Hill’s freedom of speech but also condemned what he had said.

In a statement the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education said it was “pleased” with the board’s decision. “In the future,” the statement says, “universities facing similar controversies should reach the same outcome — but should ensure that they do not threaten faculty rights in the process, as Temple did in Hill’s case.”

Andy Thomason is a senior editor at The Chronicle. Send him a tip at andy.thomason@chronicle.com. And follow him on Twitter @arthomason.