Art school suspends professor over Palestine reference
A tenured professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been suspended and placed under investigation after assigning a case study that included a brief reference to Palestinian civilians and pro-Palestinian protests.
Savneet Talwar, who teaches in SAIC’s art therapy and counseling program, gave the assignment in April as part of a course examining cultural issues in therapy. Students were asked to create an ethical treatment plan for a fictional client: a queer Muslim immigrant woman living in the United States.
The case study stated that the client felt personally affected by violence against Palestinian civilians and was critical of her home country’s response. Aside from this reference, the assignment primarily focused on the client’s family relationships, immigration experiences, and mental health concerns. It did not mention Israel.
Soon after the assignment was distributed, Talwar was contacted by school administrators and questioned about including Palestine in the material. Her class was canceled, the assignment was removed from the course platform, and she was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.
According to letters sent by the school, officials were concerned because the assignment involved a student who had previously filed complaints alleging antisemitism and the creation of a hostile environment within the department. Administrators suggested that assigning a case study involving a Muslim woman sympathetic to the Palestinian cause could potentially constitute discrimination, harassment, or retaliation in light of those ongoing disputes.
The controversy comes amid broader tensions within the department. SAIC has previously faced allegations of antisemitism, including a lawsuit filed by an Israeli student in 2023. That lawsuit was later dismissed by a judge.
Talwar said she was shocked by the school’s response and argued that the investigation appears to be based largely on the assignment’s reference to Palestine. Through her attorney, she has challenged the suspension and is considering a formal employment discrimination complaint against the institution.
School officials later cited additional concerns involving interactions between Talwar and the same student, including discussions related to a terror attack in Australia and a recommendation about attending a lecture by an anti-Zionist speaker. Talwar declined to address those allegations publicly, citing confidentiality obligations.
Her attorney, Rima Kapitan, argued that the assignment was neither antisemitic nor discriminatory and questioned whether educators are effectively being discouraged from including Palestinian experiences in academic materials. She maintained that Talwar had made efforts to accommodate the student and criticized the school’s handling of the matter.
SAIC declined to comment on the specific personnel case but stated that it remains committed to maintaining a learning environment where ideas can be freely exchanged and where students and faculty are respected and valued.
Talwar said the incident reflects growing political pressures in higher education and increasing reluctance among faculty members to discuss Palestine in academic settings. According to her, the climate has become so restrictive that some educators now hesitate to use the word itself.
