Portland State claims to uphold free expression and equity but has fostered a hostile environment for Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, and allied students. According to the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s (FIRE) 2025 College Free Speech Rankings, Portland State is ranked 194th out of 257 top colleges and universities in the U.S. The administration has reportedly aggressively repressed anti-genocide demonstrators by calling on police during peaceful protests, an act by campus administrators across the country that the American Association of University Professors has condemned. Portland State has faced allegations of prioritizing donor relationships over the safety and inclusion of Palestinian and Muslim students during campus protests. Portland State faces a federal Title VI investigation for failing to address persistent anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic harassment.
Portland State claims to “uphold the right to free speech and the unfettered exchange of ideas” as an essential part of its educational purpose. Still, Portland State University has seemingly failed to protect the free speech and free expressions of a diverse coalition of Palestinian, Arab, Muslim, Jewish, and other students protesting the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, as well as Israeli apartheid and occupation of Palestinian land. For one, President Ann Cudd’s public statements reportedly continued to emphasize the safety of pro-Israel students while ignoring the ongoing harassment of Palestinian and Muslim communities. Despite attempts by faculty, including Erica Thomas, co-chair of the Portland State University Faculty Association, to prevent police involvement in protests, President Cudd reportedly authorized their deployment to remove student protestors opposing genocide violently.
On May 3, 2024, Portland State University police officers, including riot gear-equipped state troopers, reportedly attacked and arrested student protesters who were stationed in the campus library. Witnesses reported officers using pepper spray and physical force, including shoving, kneeling on the backs of individuals, and making violent remarks. Many students and faculty members felt frustrated with the Portland State administration and reportedly urged them to take the protesters seriously, listen to their grievances, and reflect on the underlying reasons for the unrest. Others reported they were in unsafe, unprotected conditions and were scared to be on campus due to the armed police brutality against student protestors opposing the genocide in Gaza.
Additionally, President Cudd made a reportedly antagonistic statement at a June 2024 faculty meeting when she said, “Words, slogans, and epithets, while protected by the First Amendment, will not bring about a ceasefire in Gaza, but they can poison our community.” Professor Stephanie Wahab pointed out the lasting trauma caused by police violence on campus, referring to the 2018 killing of Jason Washington by campus police. “It’s not just that we don’t trust the police,” Wahab said. “The police killed someone here. That history lives in our bodies, our memories, and our hearts, and the wound is still open.” Despite this painful history, Portland State has relied on law enforcement to handle campus protests instead of addressing students’ concerns, further isolating those speaking out against the genocide in Gaza.
Portland State University is currently facing a federal Title VI investigation due to its failure to address ongoing anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic harassment adequately. Throughout the summer of 2024, faculty and staff reported that hateful anti-Palestinian flyers were posted in Cramer Hall. Although they reported these incidents to President Cudd and other administration officials, the students and faculty felt a “lack of action.” Portland State University Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine reportedly said at least five complaints about the flyers were made to the university administration, and nothing was done. Regarding the flyers, Wahab allegedly stated, “The posters were incredibly racist towards Palestinians.” Ericka Kimball, an Associate Professor of Social Work, also reported, “I’m disturbed by the utter lack of response by Portland State. The flyers are clearly anti-Arab and Islamophobic.” Kimball reportedly expressed concern about the harmful impact of hateful posters, warning that their unchecked expansion fosters dangerous rhetoric that can influence others and spark conflicts extending beyond the university community. “When we see things like that, there’s a risk of escalation into broader violence,” Kimball noted, adding that the volatile environment of a college campus heightens this risk. Although the university allegedly identified the individual responsible for the flyers and their connection to a major donor, the administration has reportedly taken minimal action, downplaying the issue and responding inconsistently.
Portland State administration apparently prioritizes its relationships with donors over the safety and inclusion of Palestinian and Muslim students. The university’s reported lack of visible support for these communities, combined with its focus on financial interests rather than the well-being of marginalized groups, creates a hostile campus environment. This perceived bias and the administration’s failure to intervene directly or transparently have reportedly led to significant condemnation. Portland State University Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine allegedly expressed concerns about the influence of donor interests on university policies. They demanded accountability, highlighting the harmful effects of seemingly unchecked hate speech and administrative inaction on campus inclusivity: “We are troubled by the ways PSU donors, Board of Trustee members, and others are influencing President Cudd’s inconsistent and opaque response to anti-Palestinian hate on campus.”
