{"id":249203,"date":"2025-05-20T14:27:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T14:27:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/activist\/cair-designates-ui-as-hostile-campus-for-handling-of-pro-palestine-advocacy-cair-chicago\/"},"modified":"2025-05-20T14:27:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T14:27:56","slug":"cair-designates-ui-as-hostile-campus-for-handling-of-pro-palestine-advocacy-cair-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=249203","title":{"rendered":"CAIR designates UI as \u2018Hostile Campus\u2019 for handling of pro-Palestine advocacy \u2014 CAIR-Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n
<\/p>\n

\n

By <\/strong>Anna Williams<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The Council on American-Islamic Relations has designated the University as a \u201chostile campus\u201d due to its handling of pro-Palestine advocacy, according to a Thursday press release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

CAIR cited other civil liberties organizations\u2019 condemnations, such as the ACLU of Illinois\u2019 warning in January to campus administrators<\/a>, as evidence for its designation of the University.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite public claims of inclusion, UIUC has subjected Muslim, Arab, Palestinian, and allied students to surveillance, arrests, felony charges, and policy crackdowns,\u201d the press release read.<\/p>\n

Nine individuals involved with last April\u2019s encampment on the Main Quad are facing charges<\/a> related to the protest, with eight being the felony mob action charge. Three of those facing charges are University students. The Daily Illini cannot substantiate claims of individual surveillance, but the University\u2019s creation of the I-Team<\/a> has led to an increased administrative presence at protests and rallies.<\/p>\n

According to The Associated Press<\/a>, CAIR is \u201cthe largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S.\u201d Its goal as an organization is to \u201cenhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims,\u201d according to its website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The organization has previously come under scrutiny<\/a> for comments made by National Executive Director Nihad Awad about Hamas\u2019 Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Because of these statements, CAIR\u2019s name was removed from a list of organizations<\/a> with which the Biden-Harris administration announced a commitment to fight antisemitism in December 2023.<\/p>\n

The \u201chostile campus\u201d designation has been applied<\/a> to more than 20 universities in the United States. These campuses include the University of Chicago<\/a>, Columbia University<\/a> and Big Ten neighbors Northwestern University<\/a> and Indiana University<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cUIUC has cultivated a dangerous climate for students who support justice for Palestine,\u201d said Corey Saylor, CAIR\u2019s Research and Advocacy Director, as part of the press release. \u201cThis is not inclusion, it\u2019s institutionalized Islamophobia.\u201d<\/p>\n

The CU Muslim Action Committee released a statement<\/a> in response to CAIR\u2019s new classification.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn light of this designation, CU MAC hopes the university will reassess how it views its anti-genocide students, faculty, and community as well as addressing the growing concerns regarding its complicity in genocide,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

Robin Kaler, associate chancellor for strategic communications and marketing, addressed the new designation in an email to The Daily Illini.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue to work to make Illinois a place where all people are valued and welcomed,\u201d Kaler wrote. \u201cWe recognize that support systems are critical to student success, and we continue to invest in resources for all students to promote safety, well-being, inclusiveness and a sense of community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n