Within the weeks after Hamas attacked Israel in October, a confrontation between a Jewish USC professor and a bunch of pro-Palestinian college students went viral and triggered a storm of controversy on campus.
Economics professor John Strauss advised college students — who had been calling for a ceasefire and commemorating Palestinians slain within the struggle — “Hamas are murderers,” including, “That’s all they’re. Each one needs to be killed, and I hope all of them are killed.”
Video of Strauss’ remarks unfold quickly on-line and led to a petition calling for the professor’s termination. Greater than 10 college students additionally filed complaints towards Strauss, accusing him of partaking in discrimination, harassment and fostering an unsafe surroundings.
This week, that long-running inquiry got here to an finish.
USC directors knowledgeable Strauss on Tuesday that the case towards him was closed, the complaints by college students can be dismissed and that he’ll face no formal self-discipline, in line with the professor and his lawyer.
“I’m relieved,” Strauss mentioned in a telephone interview. “So far as I’m involved, I’ve been absolutely exonerated they usually’re not doing something to punish me, and it’s over.”
His lawyer, Samantha Harris, mentioned she was “annoyed that it took seven months to succeed in an apparent conclusion” that Strauss didn’t interact in harassment or discrimination.
“I’m nonetheless happy that they reached the proper outcome,” Harris mentioned.
The Occasions introduced USC with a abstract of the findings about Strauss. USC didn’t dispute the findings, but in addition issued a press release saying they “are unable to debate any particular person instances due to the confidential nature of personnel issues.”
“USC takes allegations of harassment and discrimination significantly,” mentioned the assertion issued by USC’s press workplace.
The episode was an early flash level in clashes between supporters of Israel and Palestinians which have roiled American universities over the Israel-Hamas struggle. The Strauss episode was eclipsed by extra campus turmoil after the college canceled a Muslim scholar’s valedictorian speech, referred to as in police to dismantle a pro-Palestinian encampment and canceled the principle commencement ceremony.
To achieve their conclusion that Strauss didn’t violate college insurance policies, a USC investigator interviewed the scholars who lodged complaints, witnesses and Strauss himself, in line with Strauss and his lawyer. Strauss’ lawyer additionally mentioned the investigator had video of the encounter — together with the clips that had gone viral — and aerial footage from “Trojan Cam,” a reside feed of the statue of Tommy Trojan on campus.
It was close to that statue the place college students on Nov. 9 had been staging a walkout calling for a ceasefire within the Gaza Strip and holding a memorial to Palestinian civilians killed within the battle.
There have been two discrete incidents wherein Strauss was accused of wrongdoing that day.
The primary occurred when about 200 college students gathered within the heart of campus for a “Shut It Down for Palestine” motion. Some college students chanted, “From the river to the ocean, Palestine can be free.” Close by, college students had unfurled 4 lengthy rolls of paper — a minimum of 18 inches extensive — throughout the bottom, with hundreds of names of useless civilians listed.
Strauss, who was strolling throughout campus to show a category, mentioned he heard calls to destroy Israel and have become offended: “I’m Jewish and really pro-Israel, so I shouted, ‘Israel eternally. Hamas are murderers.’”
He was accused of deliberately stepping on the paper commemorating the useless Palestinians.
College students advised The Occasions final 12 months they felt threatened by an older professor ready of energy confronting them on this means after which “desecrating” the useless.
When the investigator pulled footage of this, nevertheless, it confirmed Strauss strolling close to the paper, however any contact was incidental, if it occurred in any respect, Harris mentioned, including: “An inexpensive viewing of the video makes clear it was not deliberate, if in actual fact something was stepped on.”
The second incident occurred later that afternoon as Strauss was returning to his workplace after class. A scholar close to the memorial yelled out, “Professor Strauss, disgrace on you.”
Strauss replied, “No, disgrace on you,” including, “You individuals are ignorant, actually ignorant.”
A scholar in a grey Lululemon hoodie and black pants is heard telling Strauss that the occasion was to “pay respects” to these killed. A classmate sporting a purple kaffiyeh wrapped round his head rushed over and inserted himself between the professor and the scholars.
Strauss, holding a file of papers in a single hand and a bottle of water within the different, then advised the scholars: “Hamas are murderers. That’s all they’re. Each one needs to be killed, and I hope all of them are killed.”
“I received that on video. Thanks!” a scholar is heard saying on a recording.
There was no dispute that Strauss mentioned the phrases, however he denied that this amounted to a risk to college students, as Hamas is deemed a terrorist group.
Summarizing the probe’s findings, Harris mentioned USC decided it had inadequate proof that he was intentionally concentrating on any scholar and his phrases — uttered within the span of lower than a minute — didn’t create a hostile surroundings.
“This was an trade of opinions in a public space of campus on a problem of public concern that rose nowhere close to to the extent of conduct that constitutes harassment, which is extreme, pervasive and protracted,” mentioned Harris, referencing the formal standards for evaluating harassment.
Though Strauss received’t face any sanction by the college, his lawyer mentioned that the size of the probe has been its personal type of punishment.
“Dwelling underneath a cloud for seven months will not be nothing, and it has a chilling impact broadly talking on school’s willingness to precise themselves on issues of public concern,” Harris mentioned.
Strauss was allowed to return to campus in December and continued educating within the spring semester. This fall, he additionally has a full course load.
“I don’t have any regrets about what I did or mentioned in any respect,” Strauss mentioned. “I believe it was completely cheap.”
