Alums for Campus Fairness (ACF) is disappointed in the recent inaction by the Temple University Board of Trustees regarding the hateful statements made by Professor Marc Lamont Hill at the United Nations last month. While we appreciate the university responding to calls for action by launching an investigation and ultimately unanimously condemning the professor’s call for a “free Palestine from the river to the sea”, we feel that the remarks merited further disciplinary action.

The board’s decision to forgo imposing sanctions on Professor Hill speaks volumes about a lack of understanding as to the full extent of the statement. This phrase, a favorite of extremists in in the anti-Israel movement, is a call to eliminate Israel as a Jewish State. As noted in a previous statement, CNN  terminated Professor Hill from his contributor post at the network, having fully realized the polarizing and anti-Semitic impact of the “from the river to the sea” mantra.

Our membership at Temple University is disappointed in the lack of action by the administration to properly discipline this divisive statement. We the alumni, donors, parents and concerned community members for this distinguished University will continue to hold the administration accountable to take measurable steps in ensuring a fair campus environment for all who attend Temple.