But there was one catch: To be paid for his visit, Mr. Thrall was told that he had to pledge, according to a 2017 state law, that he would not boycott Israel.
“That is unacceptable and won’t happen in Arkansas.”At college campuses around the country, students and faculty have been engulfed in vitriolic debates over students’ pro-Palestinian speech.
Brandeis, Columbia and George Washington University have banned or suspended pro-Palestinian student protest groups.
At a large public university in a more conservative state like Arkansas, the debate is playing out in a somewhat different way.
Well before the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, state lawmakers had tried to control the debate on the Middle East, for instance demanding in the 2017 law that anyone contracting with the state sign a pledge against boycotting Israel.
Persons:
Nathan Thrall, Thrall, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, ” Ms, Sanders
Organizations:
University of Arkansas, Israel, ”, ’, Brandeis, George Washington University
Locations:
American, America, Israel, Arkansas, Columbia