Michel DeGraff, a tenured linguistics professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.), remains on the university’s payroll despite controversy stemming from his proposed course and outspoken activism related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The dispute, which has persisted for over three years, highlights ongoing tensions in academia around free speech and the limits of academic freedom.
Dr. DeGraff, a Haitian scholar known for his expertise in Creole languages, proposed a course titled “Language and Linguistics for Decolonization and Liberation and for Peace and Community Building — From the River to the Sea in Palestine and Israel to the Mountaintops of Haiti and Beyond.” The course idea emerged in the wake of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, a period marked by heightened campus activism and polarization. The phrase “from the river to the sea,” frequently chanted by pro-Palestinian protesters and used by Dr. DeGraff, has been perceived by some as antisemitic.
M.I.T. rejected the course proposal, citing concerns over Dr. DeGraff’s qualifications to teach on the subject matter. Dr. DeGraff contested this decision, framing it as an infringement on his academic freedom and labeling the administration’s stance as a form of “new McCarthyism.” He has since engaged in public advocacy, legal actions, and social media campaigns to challenge the university’s decision, filing a federal lawsuit accusing M.I.T. of suppressing speech related to Gaza and violating his professional rights. The university has denied these claims in court, requesting dismissal of the lawsuit, and has declined to comment publicly on the matter.
As the conflict intensified, Dr. DeGraff aligned himself with pro-Palestinian student activists, participating in a prolonged campus encampment demanding that M.I.T. sever ties with Israel. His activism and controversies prompted the university in late 2024 to sanction him by removing him from the linguistics department and assigning him the title “faculty at large.” According to Dr. DeGraff, he has been barred from certain departmental activities, denied a scheduled pay raise, and excluded from mentoring new students. Despite these restrictions, he continues to receive compensation without teaching a course related to his original proposal for multiple semesters.
The controversy has drawn attention beyond the university. Dr. DeGraff was sued for harassment by a former Jewish student, William Sussman, who alleged antisemitic harassment and social media targeting. Mr. Sussman’s lawsuit includes claims that Dr. DeGraff labeled him with the term “mind infection,” which Dr. DeGraff attributes to an Israeli scholar’s critique of educational materials rather than antisemitism. While some claims against Dr. DeGraff have been dismissed, appeals remain possible. A U.S. House committee report released earlier this year accused Dr. DeGraff of promoting antisemitic conspiracy theories, further fueling debate.
Supporters of Dr. DeGraff emphasize his dedication to free speech, human rights, and linguistic empowerment, viewing his persistence as a response to perceived injustices. Hayes Miller, an M.I.T. professor emeritus and longtime friend, described Dr. DeGraff’s activism as motivated by a commitment to difficult conversations rather than antisemitism. Critics, however, argue that his activism crosses professional boundaries and raises questions about the scope of academic freedom, particularly when it involves subjects outside a scholar’s primary expertise.
Dr. DeGraff, who joined M.I.T.’s faculty in 1996, has continued to teach other courses aligned with his expertise, including “Creole Languages and Caribbean Identities” and “Black Matters: Introduction to Black Studies.” In 2024, he proposed a new course based on his recently published book, “Our Own Language: Harnessing the Power of Kreyol and Other Mother Tongues for Education and Liberation,” but the proposal was rejected after additional departmental review requests, which he viewed as further discrimination.
The case of Michel DeGraff underscores the challenges that institutions face in balancing academic freedom, faculty activism, and community sensitivities amid politically charged campus climates. As universities navigate these complexities, the boundaries of tenure protections and free speech rights remain contentious and vigorously debated.