San Jose State University is proceeding with the termination of Dr. Sang Hea Kil, a tenured professor in the Justice Studies Department, following her involvement in pro-Palestine campus activism. The decision by university President Cynthia Teniente-Matson to fire Kil overturns a unanimous recommendation from a faculty hearing panel, escalating a case that is now set for arbitration and raising significant questions about academic freedom and free speech on public university campuses.
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Sang Hea Kil, a tenured professor at San Jose State University (SJSU) since 2007, is facing termination for her role in a February 2024 protest related to Palestine.
- A university faculty hearing panel unanimously ruled in Kil's favor in October 2025, recommending no punishment.
- SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson overturned the panel's decision, insisting on punishment and moving forward with termination.
- The case stems from a protest at an event featuring a speaker who had publicly denied that a genocide was occurring in Gaza.
- Kil alleges her case highlights a double standard and is an example of external pressure influencing university decisions, citing emails from Hillel Silicon Valley to the administration.
The Incident of February 2024
The events leading to Professor Kil's termination began in February 2024. San Jose State University departments, including the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, co-sponsored a talk by Jeffrey Blutinger, a professor from CSU Long Beach, intended to discuss a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
Professor Kil raised concerns about Blutinger's participation, noting he had previously denied in his student newspaper that events in Gaza constituted a genocide. She emailed several co-sponsoring departments, urging them to withdraw their support due to this stance.
"I have a very libertarian attitude about free speech, which is I think you fight bad speech with good speech; you don’t cancel bad speech and then have good speech," Kil stated, explaining her intent was not to cancel the event but to challenge the speaker's views during the question-and-answer session.
An Event Derailed
On the day of the event, attendees, including students, faculty, and community members, found the location had been moved from the public library to a classroom without clear signage. Access to the new location was restricted by police to enrolled students only, creating what Kil described as an "academic ambush."
In the hallway outside the classroom, tensions escalated. According to Kil and video evidence, a physical altercation occurred where another SJSU professor, Jonathan Roth, allegedly assaulted a Palestinian student. Roth was later suspended and subsequently retired after initially being placed back on the teaching schedule for Fall 2025.
Despite the chaotic environment which Kil says was created by administrators, the university opened an investigation into her actions in April 2024.
A Barrage of Charges and a Faculty Hearing
The university leveled a wide range of accusations against Dr. Kil. The charges included violating her role as a faculty advisor, failing in her professional responsibilities, and violating codes of moral conduct and campus climate policies. "They basically threw spaghetti on the wall to see what stuck, even though I literally just showed up for a talk," Kil commented on the matter.
The Path to Termination
Following the April 2024 investigation, Professor Kil was placed on paid suspension in May 2024. In June 2024, the university escalated this suspension to a formal move for termination, a process that allows for a faculty hearing and, ultimately, arbitration if disputed.
Kil, supported by her union, the California Faculty Association (CFA), opted for a public statutory hearing under Article 19 of the collective bargaining agreement. This put her fate in the hands of three randomly selected faculty members.
"I needed to show people what was happening to me because I knew it was happening to so many other people and that the silence that was chilling everybody not to be public—we all need to fight that," Kil said about her decision to pursue a public hearing.
In October 2025, the Faculty Hearing panel delivered a unanimous verdict. They ruled in Kil's favor, recommending no punishment. The panel concluded that the time she spent defending herself and the lengthy suspension were sufficient consequences. However, the victory was short-lived.
Presidential Override and Allegations of External Pressure
Shortly after the panel's decision, SJSU President Cynthia Teniente-Matson overturned their recommendation. Citing that the panel did find Kil in violation of some policies, the president insisted that a formal punishment was necessary and proceeded with termination. The case is now headed to arbitration, for which a date has not yet been set.
A key element of Kil's defense was evidence she uncovered of what she terms "external pressure." During the hearing process, emails were presented showing that Hillel Silicon Valley had contacted the university president and provost, demanding an investigation into Kil.
A Troubling Finding
The faculty hearing panel acknowledged the external pressure in its findings. It noted that the administration appeared to have succumbed to demands from outside groups on how to investigate Professor Kil and what charges to pursue, particularly focusing on her role as an advisor for Students for Justice in Palestine.
Kil argues this represents a form of "New McCarthyism" where pro-Palestine speech is exceptionally targeted. She also pointed to what she calls the "Zionist Lie Machine," referencing testimony from university witnesses during her hearing. One former lecturer claimed students chanted "death to the Jews," an allegation Kil vehemently denies and which was circulated by several other faculty and administrative witnesses. She believes these claims endanger pro-Palestine students and faculty on campus.
Broader Implications for Academic Freedom
Professor Kil's case is being watched closely by academics across the country. As potentially the first full tenured professor in the U.S. to be fired for speech related to Palestine, the outcome could set a significant precedent. Henry Reichman, a professor emeritus and academic freedom expert who testified at her hearing, warned of severe consequences if the termination is upheld.
According to Reichman's testimony, firing Kil would effectively undermine the protections of tenure at a public university. He also raised the possibility that the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) could censure SJSU, officially designating it as a campus hostile to academic freedom.
The distinction between SJSU, a large public university with a faculty union, and private institutions where similar controversies have occurred, makes this case particularly critical. "They’re making an example of me not just for my campus, and not just for California’s educational system, but the nation," Kil said.
While awaiting arbitration, Kil is focused on raising funds to cover personal expenses and preparing for the next stage of her legal battle. Despite the uncertainty, she remains committed to organizing for what she calls "a better world, for Palestine and for us all under this increasingly fascist regime."
