A San Jose State University (SJSU) professor has been placed on administrative leave after an altercation with students during a campus protest related to the Israel-Hamas war.
“A SJSU employee involved in the altercation has been placed on administrative leave, pending additional review pursuant to campus protocols,” the president stated. “A review of the circumstances surrounding yesterday’s incident is ongoing and other members of the SJSU community may also face administrative action based on reported activities that do not align with campus policy.”
There were no physical injuries reported and no police charges filed, according to the email.
However, Ms. Teniente-Matson warned the community, “I want to be clear—physical altercations or threatening behaviors that jeopardize the safety and security of any member of our university community will not be tolerated.”
The president also affirmed the university’s commitment to free speech.
Media Reports Identify Professor
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that another faculty member identified the professor involved in the altercation as history professor Jonathan Roth, the 2019 recipient of the university’s Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes faculty leadership.The protest took place during a classroom presentation by guest lecturer Jeffrey Blutinger, a professor at California State University–Long Beach who specializes in Jewish history, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mr. Bultinger’s guest lecture was called “Constructing a Just Solution: Where Israelis and Palestinians Go From Here,” the Chronicle reported.
