Aria Fani
The University of Washington removed Aria Fani from his role as director of its Middle East Center on Friday, March 27, according to The Daily, the university’s student newspaper.
Fani told The Daily he received a phone call that morning from Jackson School of International Studies (JSIS) director Daniel Hoffman informing him of the decision. He will remain in his position as an associate professor at the university.
“I can confirm that Aria Fani is no longer the director of the University’s Middle East Center,” UW associate director of strategic communications David Rey wrote in an email. “Daniel Hoffman, the director of the Jackson School of International Studies, will cover the administrative responsibilities of the Middle East Center for this spring and summer.”
Fani told The Daily he had several follow-up conversations with Hoffman about both his removal and his use of the center’s listserv—an email distribution system departments use to send messages to subscribers. He said the messages included his personal views on the ongoing conflict in Iran.
Fani said he sees his termination as part of a broader national trend around free speech in academia.
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