PROFESSOR ANDREA J. MARTIN PRESENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA CAREY LAW SCHOOL
November 2024 — Professor Andrea J. Martin delivered a presentation, “Balancing Freedom of Expression and Equality On College Campuses In the Wake of Intensified Antisemitism,” at Penn Carey Law.
Professor Martin described the amplification of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict discourse and the intensification of antisemitism on college campuses since October 7, 2023, explained how Title VI of the Civil Rights Act provides a remedy to Jewish students based on shared ancestry, and shared her analysis of First Amendment jurisprudence in the higher education setting. She illustrated how the Supreme Court has empowered university administrators to constitutionally regulate student advocacy to prevent substantial disruptions to academic environments, while also upholding student free speech protections. Achieving this equilibrium is critical because inherent dangers lie in limiting liberty for student advocates and in endangering students due to hostile campus environments. She proposes that during this time of heightened anti-Israel advocacy and increased antisemitism, administrators uphold values of respect, integrity, and community by communicating and enforcing content-neutral campus advocacy policies, condemning antisemitism, and promoting the inclusion of all voices as fundamental to the free expression of ideas and learning.
Professor Andrea J. Martin researches the intersection of law and antisemitism within broad legal, historical, and political contexts and explores its connection to other forms of group-based hate. Her scholarship focuses on constitutional issues and the intersection of the law with historical and contemporary antisemitism and racism. Her scholarly work is dedicated to proposing legal strategies and policies to combat these issues.