Emory University Faculty Senate Votes No Confidence in President After Anti-Israel Protests

The Faculty Senate at Emory College of Arts and Sciences has passed a motion of no confidence against President Gregory Fenves following anti-Israel protests that resulted in arrests and allegations of excessive force by police.

The Faculty Senate at Emory College of Arts and Sciences has passed a motion of no confidence against President Gregory Fenves following anti-Israel protests that resulted in arrests and allegations of excessive force by police.

The motion, which was passed by a vote of 358-119, condemns Emory officials for calling on police, which they allege resulted in "violence" and "use of force."

The protests began on April 25, when a group of students gathered on campus to protest Israel's military actions in Gaza. The protests quickly turned violent, with demonstrators throwing rocks and bottles at police officers. Police responded by using tear gas and zip-ties to subdue the protesters.

Twenty-eight people were arrested during the protests, including Derek Zika, of Statesville, North Carolina, who was carrying knives and pepper spray when he was taken into custody.

In a statement following the arrests, Fenves defended the university's decision to call on police, saying that he was "firm that such encampments cannot be permitted at Emory."

However, the faculty senate's no confidence motion suggests that many faculty members believe that Fenves mishandled the situation. The motion accuses Fenves of failing to "protect the safety and well-being of students and faculty" and of "failing to uphold the values of academic freedom and free speech."

The faculty senate's no confidence motion is the latest in a series of controversies that have plagued Emory University in recent months. In April, the Biden administration's Department of Education launched an investigation into the university for alleged anti-Muslim discrimination.

The university has also been criticized for its handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. In August, Emory announced that it would be requiring all students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, the university reversed its decision after facing backlash from students and faculty.

The no confidence vote is a serious blow to Fenves's presidency. It is unclear what the future holds for Fenves, but it is clear that he has lost the support of many of his faculty.