Professor Watchlist

John Cheney-Lippold is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan whose work focuses on Internet Studies, Cultural Studies, and Algorithm Studies.

Lippold made headlines for his blatant discrimination against a pro-Israel student at Michigan. After agreeing to the initial request, he refused to write a letter of recommendation for her to study abroad in Israel due to his adherence to the academic boycott of the nation. In a now released email exchange, Lippold replied to the student’s request:

“As you may know, many university departments have pledged an academic boycott against Israel in support of Palestinians living in Palestine. This boycott includes writing letters of recommendations for students to study there.” 

In a statement released by Palestine Legal, he only proceeded to double-down and even compared Israel to Apartheid-era South Africa:

“I support the Palestinian boycott call because I am appalled at Israel’s continuing violation of Palestinian rights, and our government’s support for those violations…If a student had wanted to do a study abroad at an institution in Apartheid South Africa, I would have declined to write a letter for her as well.”