Setting The Record Straight

Campus Watch corrects false allegations made against it.

Campus Watch Responds:

In the fittingly titled, "More Nuggets From a Nut House," University of Pennsylvania economics professor, Edward S. Herman, claims that the so-called "Israel Lobby" is threatening the academic freedom and civil liberties of various Middle East studies professors in an effort to advance certain foreign policy objectives. Herman accuses Campus Watch, among other organizations, of being part of this alleged conspiracy in the following passage:

Although the efforts of Campus Watch, CAMERA, Israel on Campus Coalition, and the David Project are such a clear throwback to the McCarthy era efforts of Red Channels and other private thought-police operations, you would hardly be aware of the civil liberties threat if you read only the mainstream media.

In reality, Campus Watch is not part of any "lobby," but is, rather, a project of the Middle East Forum, which is a nonprofit, 501 (c) (3) organization. Campus Watch receives no government funding and acts independently of all other organizations.

Furthermore, Campus Watch does not practice "McCarthyism" against Middle East studies academics. Instead, we provide critiques where analytical failures, the mixing of politics with scholarship, intolerance of alternative views, apologetics, and the abuse of power over students come into play. As stated on the homepage of our website, Campus Watch fully respects the freedom of speech of those it debates while insisting on its own freedom to comment on their words and deeds.

Perhaps Herman should have consulted the Campus Watch website before arriving at such overwrought conclusions.

(Posted by Cinnamon Stillwell)