UC-Santa Cruz Is Hiring for Palestine Studies—But Not Israel Studies?

Coming right after Governor Kathy Hochul canceled a Palestine Studies cluster hire at a CUNY school, another American college is now recruiting for a “Palestine Studies” professor or lecturer.

The University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) posted a job advertisement on Sunday seeking applicants for a “Lecturer: Palestine/Palestinians” position.

“The Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for a lecturer with the background and experience to offer courses on Palestine during the Spring 2025 academic quarter,” the ad states.

“The lecturer will develop and teach two undergraduate, five-credit courses that address the anthropology and/or history of Palestine, including relationships to the broader Middle East and the Palestinian Diaspora.”

A Social Justice Hire in Disguise?

Beyond the subject matter, the job posting suggests UCSC is seeking a social justice activist to join its faculty.

“We seek instructors with expertise in cultural anthropology (race and ethnicity, medicine, health, science, gender, sexuality, environment, religion, law, popular culture, politics, economics, and institutions) with a regional/ethnographic focus on Palestine/Palestinians,” the ad explains.

Further raising eyebrows, the ad explicitly highlights the school’s commitment to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).

“In accordance with Federal regulations, each campus of the University, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the Office of the President, and the Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources is required to prepare and maintain a written affirmative action plan.”

“Our obligations in this area stem not only from adherence to various State and Federal regulations, but also from our steadfast commitment to creating a culture of inclusiveness and diversity where members of our community thrive and are able to reach their full potential.”

Why Only Palestine Studies?

According to the job listing, the new hire is expected to start in late March—suggesting they would be teaching during the summer semester.

Notably, UC-Santa Cruz appears to have no active job postings for an “Israel/Israelis” professor—despite offering courses that seemingly present a neutral stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Examples include “Food, Culture, and Justice in Israel/Palestine” and “The Cultural Aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.”

Concerns of Jewish Parents and Students

This hiring decision has sparked concern among Jewish parents and allies. The job ad was first spotted in a Facebook group with over 60,000 Jewish supporters, where members immediately voiced their worries that UCSC is recruiting pro-Palestinian academic activists rather than neutral scholars.

Many fear the professor will promote a one-sided narrative of the Israel-Palestine conflict, furthering what critics call the “CUNY-ification” of American academia—referring to the City University of New York’s growing antisemitism problem and recent faux-pas.

Other concerned users echoed these concerns, questioning whether UCSC would offer a balanced academic approach.

"I thought they'd stop their DEI madness", one netizen wrote.

“Will there be a professor on Judaism? On Israel? This is outrageous and I WOULD NOT SEND MY KID THERE!!!” one commenter wrote.

“Are you kidding me? This must be a joke. This is CUNY 2.0.” another said.

Despite multiple inquiries, UCSC did not respond to questions about why it is only hiring for Palestine Studies—or why applicants are required to have a documented track record of DEI contributions.

This opinion piece was brought to you by Toni Airaksinen, Senior Editor of Liberty Affair and a journalist based in Delray Beach, Florida. Follow her on Substack , on X @ Toni_Airaksinen and Instagram @Toni_Airaksinen.