Mary Nolan is a professor in the Department of History at New York University (NYU). Her record of activism shows repeated alignment with campus movements that have normalized antisemitism and created hostile environments for Jewish students.
Normalizing Hostility Through Petitions
In July 2014, Nolan signed a letter to President Barack Obama and Congress during Israel’s Operation Protective Edge, accusing Israel of “war crimes” and demanding the suspension of U.S. military aid. This letter echoed rhetoric that delegitimized Israel while ignoring the context of Hamas rocket fire against civilians. In 2016, she signed a petition to the American Historical Association alleging that Israel impeded academic freedom in the West Bank, again framing Israel as uniquely culpable.
Defending Antisemitic Faculty
In August 2014, Nolan defended Steven Salaita, who lost a university appointment after posting antisemitic tweets, including one wishing for the disappearance of Israeli children and families living in the West Bank. By signing a petition urging universities to reinstate Salaita, Nolan provided cover for rhetoric that openly celebrated harm against Jews.
Backing Radical Campus Activism
Nolan also supported disruptive and hostile activism on her own campus. In February 2009, she signed a petition defending NYU students who barricaded themselves inside the Kimmel Center during the “Kimmel Occupation.” The activists demanded that the university provide scholarships exclusively for students from Gaza and channel resources to the Islamic University of Gaza. Nolan’s support for reinstating these students aligned her with a protest that openly politicized the university against Jewish and Israeli concerns.
Conclusion
Mary Nolan’s actions at NYU show a pattern of faculty activism that protects antisemitic rhetoric, excuses disruptive campus occupations, and reinforces a hostile climate for Jewish students. By repeatedly siding with radical protests and controversial faculty, Nolan has helped normalize antisemitism under the guise of academic freedom and activism on campus.
