Faculty at the University of California, Hastings law school are criticizing the university's decision to cancel a speech by its dean and pull its name from a Palestinian rights conference following complaints by Jewish groups.
Nearly all of the school's tenured professors signed a letter to UC Hastings' board of directors last week protesting its decision to back out of the conference, which focused on using courts to promote Palestinians' rights.
The conference took place on the school's campus in San Francisco in March.
University officials tell the San Francisco Chronicle that Jewish groups, including the Jewish Community Relations Council, complained the conference was one-sided and against Israel.
But Hastings professor George Bisharat, who organized the conference, disagreed and said the board of directors had interfered in the school's academic freedom.
The directors are appointed by California's governor.
-- Associated Press
