AIM exposes Virginia Military Institute professor’s ties to to controversial pro-Palestinian group blaming Israel for attacks
October 25, 2024
Accuracy in Media recently uncovered that Philip Crane, a visiting professor at Virginia Military Institute, previously held a significant role in a controversial pro-Palestinian student organization at Columbia University. The group blamed to Israel for the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, a position that sparked widespread criticism from political leaders, students, and antisemitism watchdogs.
Crane served as secretary of the SIPA Palestine Working Group during his master’s studies at Columbia University from 2022 to 2024. He was part of a movement within Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs that promoted “awareness, understanding, and engagement” on issues relating to Palestine. This group is aligned with Columbia University Apartheid Divest, which has recently faced intense scrutiny for alleged threats and incitements on campus. In 2023, the group signed a letter to the university that not only accused Israel of causing the October 7 attacks but also criticized Israel’s policies, describing them as “aggression, apartheid, and settler-colonization,” while implicating the U.S. and other Western governments for their support.
Despite some group leaders distancing themselves from the letter afterward, Crane did not retract his endorsement. His LinkedIn profile now lists him as a visiting professor at VMI, where he teaches international politics.
AIM President Adam Guillette expressed outrage over the appointment, telling The National Desk, “It’s morally outrageous that VMI students — some of the most patriotic Americans — should be forced to learn from a radical anti-American antisemite.” Guillette, who is known for his proactive approach to exposing antisemitism, including using digital billboard trucks, announced plans to visit VMI to raise awareness about the situation.
“We’re preparing to bring significant attention to this issue at VMI,” Guillette continued, emphasizing the need to address the presence of individuals with openly radical views on college campuses. “There is no statute of limitations on antisemitism.”
This incident is the latest in a series of AIM investigations that underscore the growing concern over radical viewpoints gaining a foothold in academic institutions. AIM has continued to call for heightened accountability among universities, advocating for transparency about faculty and staff affiliations and the ideologies they promote.
AIM’s commitment to holding academic institutions accountable remains unwavering, with continued plans to monitor and expose instances where radical ideologies threaten campus integrity and student values.