The Student Bar Association at New York University has made the decision to remove its president from office following her remarks that seemed to assign blame to Israel for the attacks carried out by Hamas immediately after October 7th.
According to a report from the National Review, Ryna Workman was voted out of office after a week-long process that concluded last Wednesday. Out of the 1,176 students who participated in the vote, 707 voted against her remaining in office, while 428 voted in favor of her staying. Additionally, 41 students abstained from voting.
In a newsletter sent to the SBA, Workman expressed her perspective on the recent attacks carried out by Hamas on Israel. The attacks resulted in the loss of over 1,200 lives and the capture of around 240 individuals. In her newsletter, she attributed the responsibility for these atrocities to Israel.
According to Workman, Israel should be held accountable for the significant loss of life, as the regime’s use of violence has created a situation where resistance becomes necessary. As soon as the newsletter was published, the group led by Workman took swift action to remove her from her position.
According to National Review, the scheduled hearings had to be canceled as a result of the resignation of all SBA members. This event subsequently prompted a vote to be held among the student body. After her comments became public, NYU quickly distanced itself from Workman.
In a joint statement issued at the time, Troy McKenzie, the dean of NYU Law, and David Tanner, chair of the NYU Law Board of Trustees, expressed their strong condemnation of the recent terrorist acts and the atrocities committed by Hamas in Israel.
“The abominable and atrocious acts of murdering and kidnapping civilians, as well as the repugnant use of sexual violence, and the cruel separation and torture of children, are truly devastating,” they emphasized. “We want to make it unequivocally clear to our community that any statement failing to acknowledge the brutality of these actions does not align with the values upheld by NYU Law.”
Workman wasted no time. Just a few days after the news broke, she took matters into her own hands and launched a fundraiser on GoFundMe. In a heartfelt plea, she reached out to the public, seeking assistance to ensure her safety and overall well-being.
“On the page, she shared that it all started when I reached out to my fellow NYU Law students, expressing my solidarity with the human rights of Palestinians.”
“I didn’t mean for my message to come across as insensitive to the suffering of Israelis during a time of crisis, and I am truly sorry if it did. It’s disheartening to see that some people have interpreted it as having malicious intent.”
The Messenger contacted NYU Law School for additional comment but has yet to receive a response.
NYU, like several prestigious universities, has been shaken by a series of controversies linked to the Israel-Hamas war. These include the dismissal of a renowned cancer doctor due to his pro-Israel social media posts, as well as a lawsuit filed by Jewish students who claim to have suffered abuse since the outbreak of the conflict. Many campuses are experiencing divisions over student and staff free speech, as well as threats of violence towards both Jewish and Palestinian students. NYU is not an exception to this trend.
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