Guest Op-Ed: NYU-AAUP is Not Not FJP
On Tuesday, I attended a town hall organized by the NYU chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). I’ve been to their meetings before. NYU-AAUP is an unabashedly radical leftist organization with a pronounced focus on anti-Israel activism. As an Israeli-American Jew (but not the “acceptable” kind; that is, one of the tiny minority who denounces Zionism), I found the last meeting unsettling. This time, the chapter was looking to expand its reach, banking on the faculty malaise over various federal policies to do so. I went with a purpose: to expose the fact that the leadership of NYU-AAUP overlaps almost entirely with the Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP). The two groups effectively speak with one voice. When AAUP claims, for instance, that there were no anti-Semitic incidents during the Gaza encampments and that the protests were entirely peaceful, it’s FJP writing the script.
I showed up with a stack of leaflets, which were handed out to those entering the meeting. One leaflet read, “If AAUP = FJP, who speaks for the rest of us?” It pointed out that AAUP once represented broad faculty interests, including defending academic freedom against boycotts. However, that was before activists whose primary mission is to promote academic boycotts of Israeli scholars took over. On the back of the leaflet were listed the names of AAUP’s current executive board, matching them to FJP. While the names of the AAUP board are public, their involvement in FJP is only publicly knowable through their signatures on FJP statements.
Another leaflet read: “AAUP FJP thinks making death threats against NYU board members in the school library is acceptable. Do you?”
Within minutes of my arrival, someone notified the organizers that I was outside. They called security, who tried to get me to move, claiming I was blocking the entrance. I wasn't blocking anyone, and I didn't move. Security could immediately see this was true and left me alone. But not the organizers. They came out in a group to snicker and shake their heads. One person demanded evidence of the death threats claim. I explained that I witnessed, firsthand at the last meeting, the current president of AAUP laughing off the Bobst Library graffiti (“DISCLOSE DIVEST OR ELSE, CEOS NOW, TRUSTEES NEXT”), dismissing it as a trivial excuse for disciplining students who were engaged in a protest that forcefully blocked community members from entering and exiting the library during finals week.
Pro-Palestinian students blocking the entrance to Bobst Library during finals week, December 2024
I went into the town hall just as it was starting. The president, despite having called security on me, began by stating that AAUP is not the same as FSJP (she restored my missing S) but that they support my right to leaflet. Noted. The meeting proceeded with lengthy introductions from AAUP leaders about issues stemming from the Trump administration: federal funding cuts, immigration crackdowns, and bans on DEI policies. They then opened the floor for audience reactions, and some legitimate concerns were raised.
A few moments stood out. First, Paula Chakravartty not-so subtly insinuated that wealthy Jews control the university, which she hinted explains the supposed suppression of pro-Palestinian activism. It was a classic scapegoating dog whistle—by the way, did you know the president of NYU is Jewish? Shhhh.
Later, a soft muzak information campaign was presented by Asli Peker about the sleepy peace-loving students who disrupted the library on December 11. It was mentioned, en passant, that the next day some “actions” took place outside, and some graffiti was later found. I couldn’t resist and asked if they were planning to show pictures of the threatening graffiti. “No,” Peker replied, “but I can quote it if you want.” She did, omitting the “or else” part. Someone from the audience corrected her and asked, “Do you condemn that kind of statement?” She and the other AAUP panelists dodged the question. They deferred their answer to a doctoral law student who had in fact been suspended for his activities at Bobst that day. He delivered a word salad about the ways that prosecuting conduct violations disproportionately targets queer women of color, low-income immigrant students, and other intersectional identity groups.
Two professors from Stern spoke about the disruptive nature of the Gould Plaza protests. One, an Israeli, said he felt unsafe and that he was unable to teach all day because of the incessant, overwhelming noise. This was met with cackles. Another attendee, also Israeli, declared that he came to the protests to offer support and didn’t feel unsafe—because apparently, his experience negates the others’. He was cheered.
The event dragged on. After the final agenda item on how to increase AAUP membership, one professor approached an AAUP leader and said she shared their concerns about Trump’s executive orders but wondered if there was space in the organization for someone who believes that Israel has a right to exist. She was passed off to several different representatives before one finally replied that they were sure there were faculty in AAUP who support Israel. “Oh, do you know who they are? I’d love to talk to them,” my colleague said. The representative hesitated and then admitted, “No, I don’t. I don’t know any.”