University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) political science professor Shale Horowitz has openly criticized the university administration for its handling of pro-Palestinian protesters on campus. In a powerful open letter, Horowitz takes issue with an agreement reached between UWM leadership and the protesters, which allowed an illegal encampment on school grounds to end.

The letter, published on May 16, 2024, highlights several concerns raised by Horowitz regarding the UWM administration’s actions according to the letter published by Newstalk 1130. The agreement with pro-Palestinian protesters, reached on May 12, 2024, was aimed at ending an illegal encampment that had been set up on the UWM lawns. Horowitz argues that the agreement contains outright falsehoods, including the claim that “34,000 innocent Palestinians” have been killed and that Israel is guilty of genocide. Furthermore, the agreement endorses the rhetoric and methods of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) movement, which seeks to destroy Israel.

Horowitz’s letter also emphasizes that the UWM leaders’ actions demonize Israel in a way that fits the IHRA definition of antisemitism accepted by the US government. The IHRA definition includes the application of double standards by requiring Israel to behave in a way not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation. This, according to Horowitz, further endangers UWM’s Jewish and other pro-Israel students at a time of increasing antisemitic rhetoric, intimidation, and violence.

The UWM professor also points out that UWM leaders, in allowing illegal encampments and taking controversial political stances, have broken their own public promises to follow university rules. He ends the letter arguing that UWM’s leaders are not fit to head a public university and calls for their replacement by elected officials.