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Posts published in “Campus”

Controversy Surrounding the Firing of Smith College Lecturer Raises Questions on Academic Freedom and Political Discourse

Smith College fired adjunct dance professor Olive Demar on Wednesday, Nov. 1, for “not meeting an acceptable level of performance” and “veering off course-related topics in class and focusing on your personal life and political issues; ending class early; and refusing to meet with [her] Chair.” Since her firing, Demar has said the reason for her termination was for discussing the war in Israel and Palestine.

Protestors Demonstrate Outside L3Harris Northampton in Support of Palestine

As they marched down West St. from Smith’s College Hall to L3Harris Northampton Offices, Smith students and local activists chanted “Free Free Palestine” and “What do we want? Divestment! When do we want it? Now!” The Oct. 25 protest was against L3Harris, a weapons manufacturing company that has offices in Northampton and whose weapons are used by the Israeli military. Protestors called on Smith to divest from L3Harris, the city of Northampton to shut down the location and L3Harris employees themselves to stop manufacturing weapons and distributing them to the Israeli military.