Northwestern University faces criticism over removal of Arab students’ photos

A pro-Palestinian campus group at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, has alleged that the medical school deleted photos of Arab students from multiple social media platforms. The images, taken at a school event earlier this year, included students wearing keffiyehs, which symbolise solidarity with Palestinians. These photos were deleted from Flickr, a photo-sharing site.
The university’s Feinberg School of Medicine also reportedly removed photos from its official Instagram page.

Students’ organisation demand apology

The Students for Justice in Palestine chapter has demanded a public apology and an investigation into the removal. The group criticised the university, stating that Palestinian medical students and their families are being targeted for celebrating their achievements publicly.
University’s explanation
University spokesperson Hilary Hurd Anyaso said that the photos were removed to protect students from potential doxing, though it was not clarified if any students were actually doxxed or endangered, according to media reports. Anyaso emphasised that the decision was made out of concern for student safety and reaffirmed the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Previous incidents
Last November, three Palestinian college students were shot in Burlington, Vermont; one was paralyzed, and there were concerns that the incident might have been a hate crime.
Additionally, “doxxing trucks” displaying the names and faces of pro-Palestinian student demonstrators were seen on several campuses last fall.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations reported a record number of discrimination complaints in 2023, with a notable portion related to educational settings. Jewish students also faced a rise in antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attacks on October 7, according to the Anti-Defamation League.