West Virginia University punishes Jewish student for distributing pro-Israel books, imposing a no-contact order despite finding no wrongdoing, after a Muslim employee falsely claimed the literature was “anti-Muslim” and attempted to have him banned from campus facilities.
Key Takeaways
- Jewish student Eliyahu Itkowitz faced a five-month investigation and a no-contact order for distributing Alan Dershowitz’s book “The Ten Big Anti-Israel Lies” on campus.
- Muslim dining hall employee Hannah Harper filed false complaints claiming the pro-Israel book was “anti-Muslim” and attempted to have Itkowitz banned from the dining hall.
- The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has urged WVU to lift the no-contact order, arguing it threatens free speech despite the university finding no evidence of misconduct.
- The case highlights growing concerns about university complaint processes being weaponized to silence conservative and pro-Israel viewpoints on American campuses.
Free Speech Under Attack at WVU
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has issued a stern warning to West Virginia University after administrators imposed a no-contact order against Jewish pro-Israel student Eliyahu Itkowitz for simply distributing books on campus. The controversial investigation began when Itkowitz offered free copies of Alan Dershowitz’s book “The Ten Big Anti-Israel Lies: And How to Refute Them with Truth” to fellow students and staff. This perfectly legal expression of political speech triggered an aggressive response from a Muslim dining hall employee who falsely claimed the literature was “anti-Muslim” and attempted to manipulate university authorities.
Hannah Harper, who recently converted to Islam, initially accepted a copy of the book but later filed formal complaints with campus police and the university’s Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She falsely told her manager that Itkowitz was banned from the dining hall, which led to an incident where police were summoned. Video evidence and witness statements contradicted Harper’s claims about inappropriate comments, yet WVU still conducted a drawn-out five-month investigation before ultimately concluding that no punishable offense had occurred. Despite finding no misconduct, administrators still imposed a no-contact order against Itkowitz.
Pattern of Silencing Pro-Israel Voices
This incident isn’t isolated but appears to be part of a disturbing trend on American campuses. FIRE documented a similar case at Princeton University where pro-Israel students faced no-contact orders after expressing their views. These administrative maneuvers effectively weaponize university complaint processes against politically disfavored speech, particularly pro-Israel perspectives. The organization has called on WVU to follow Princeton’s example in revising policies that allow ideological opponents to exploit disciplinary systems to silence differing viewpoints.
“The university launched an investigation, despite the fact that even if all of her allegations against Eli were true, and there is evidence to suggest that they aren’t, all of the described actions constitute protected speech under the First Amendment,” said Jessie Appleby, FIRE representative
The investigation itself created a chilling effect on campus free speech. Itkowitz endured months of uncertainty, extensive interviews, and a restrictive no-contact order despite ultimately being cleared of any wrongdoing. This process sends a dangerous message to other students that expressing support for Israel could result in similar treatment. FIRE has emphasized that while universities have obligations to prevent discriminatory harassment, they cannot sacrifice constitutional protections for free expression in the process.
Weaponizing Complaint Processes Against Conservative Views
The WVU incident demonstrates how university complaint systems are increasingly being exploited to target and silence conservative viewpoints, particularly those supporting Israel. According to FIRE, universities should conduct preliminary reviews of complaints involving political speech before launching formal investigations that can themselves function as punishment. When complaints solely allege protected expression, initiating extensive investigations creates an environment hostile to free discourse and ideological diversity.
“This case aptly demonstrates that WVU’s policy of investigating wholly protected expression has allowed students and staff to weaponize the complaint process to silence their ideological opponents,” said Jessie Appleby, FIRE representative
This troubling case at WVU highlights a broader national problem on university campuses where administrative policies and DEI bureaucracies are frequently mobilized against pro-Israel and conservative students. FIRE has urged WVU to revise its policies to prevent such abuses in the future, stressing the importance of maintaining an academic environment that genuinely supports the free exchange of ideas and rational dialogue. True intellectual diversity requires protecting speech that some may find offensive, especially on topics as complex as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where multiple perspectives deserve fair consideration.
