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CHICAGO (AP) \u2014 DePaul University said it dismissed a part-time biology instructor after she gave an optional assignment related to the Israel-Hamas war.<\/p>\n
Anne d\u2019Aquino told students in May that they could write about the impact of \u201cgenocide in Gaza on human health and biology.” The theme of the spring class at the Chicago school was how microorganisms cause disease.<\/p>\n
DePaul said some students \u201cexpressed significant concern\u201d about politics in a science class.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe investigated the matter, spoke with the faculty member, and found it had negatively affected the learning environment by introducing extraneous political material that was outside the scope of the academic subject as outlined in the curriculum,\u201d DePaul said Friday in a statement.<\/p>\n
The school noted an email with the assignment expressed support for people \u201cresisting the normalization of ethnic cleansing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe class was provided a new instructor, and the faculty member has been released from their appointment as a part-time faculty member,\u201d DePaul said.<\/p>\n
D’Aquino is appealing her dismissal.<\/p>\n
About 50 people protested last Thursday in support of her, waving Palestinian flags, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cMy termination was a breach of my academic freedom and another example of this administration\u2019s efforts to twist any discussions of Palestine and Palestinian liberation language into false claims of antisemitism,\u201d d\u2019Aquino said at the demonstration.<\/p>\n She said the assignment was relevant, noting that scientists have warned about the spread of disease in Gaza due to malnutrition and a lack of water and adequate sanitation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n