Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has brought immense suffering and anxiety to people in Israel, the Gaza Strip, the surrounding region and all over the world. The conflict has come to college campuses and divided us.

As President Jahanian noted earlier today, our role as an institution of higher education is to educate and foster informed and respectful dialogue on complex issues. Accordingly, the Dietrich and Heinz colleges have collaborated to create a series of events for CMU students, faculty and staff that will take place during the spring semester of 2024. These events are designed to illuminate the historical, political, cultural and narrative background of the Israel-Hamas war. We have intentionally created forums that represent multiple perspectives, humbly recognizing that there are many viewpoints on this long-standing conflict.

Our first event, The Possibility of Peace, will feature Rula Hardal and May Pundak. They will share their experiences as Palestinian and Jewish members of A Land for All, an organization advocating for peaceful resolution in the region. Please register to join us from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 31, in Simmons Auditorium A (Tepper Building).

Additional events planned for the semester are described briefly below. More details about these events, and opportunities to register for each, are available on a website dedicated to the series. When possible, we will record events to share with communities beyond our Pittsburgh campus.

• Mapping the History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (Feb. 15). Laurie Z. Eisenberg, teaching professor emerita in the CMU Department of History, will provide an overview of the history of the region's borders and populations, including how they have changed over time, from the beginning of the conflict in the 1880s until the present day.
• Competing Narratives: Small Group Book Discussions (several March dates). Join one of several small groups of students, faculty and staff in discussing Neil Caplan’s book “The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories, Second Edition.” Discussions will explore the contested Palestinian and Israeli narratives of events and aim to move readers beyond assigning blame to wrestling with the complexities and contradictions of the conflict. The first 200 registrants will receive a free e-copy of the book. Two additional discussion sessions later in the semester will feature a meal and conversation with the author. Registration for these options is limited.
• Misinformation in Times of Conflict (April 1). Zeve Sanderson, executive director of New York University's Center for Social Media and Politics, will lead a discussion and Q&A session on the role of social media in the Israel-Hamas war. Participants will explore which sources of information have been reliable and how misinformation has impacted the conflict.
• Exploring History and Culture Through Food (April 18). Join CMU faculty members Nevine Abraham, assistant teaching professor of Arabic Studies in the Department of Modern Languages, and Michal Friedman, Jack Buncher Professor of Jewish Studies in the Department of History, as they share lessons from co-teaching their semester-long Grand Challenge Seminar, “Israeli and Palestinian Food Cultures,” and their spring 2023 travel with students to Israel and the West Bank. Sample food from the region and learn more about the common threads that exist between the two cultures.

Also planned for this semester: “Understanding Antisemitism and its Impact on Jews” on Jan. 30 and 31 as well as a workshop and keynote lecture on Islamophobia on Feb. 19, both of which are offered by the Office of the Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Members of the campus community can view more information and register for these sessions online.

This series of events has been generously supported by the Office of the President, the two host colleges and alumni of the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. We want to thank the members of the committee who are planning the “Academic Series on the Historical and Political Context of the Israel-Hamas War.” Each has provided thoughtful counsel on the topics we plan to cover and the experts we have invited. Committee members include:

• Nevine Abraham, Assistant Teaching Professor of Arabic Studies, Department of Modern Languages
• Dareen Basma, Associate Dean of Diversity, Inclusion, Climate and Equity, Heinz College
• Sharon Carver, Associate Dean for Educational Affairs, Dietrich College
• Laurie Z. Eisenberg, Teaching Professor Emerita, Department of History
• Michal Friedman, Buncher Professor of Jewish Studies, Department of History
• Ayana Ledford, Associate Dean for Community Impact and Educational Outreach, Dietrich College
• Alexandra Lutz, Senior Director, School of Public Policy and Management, Heinz College
• Daniel Silverman, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST)
• Abby Simmons, Associate Dean of Communications, Dietrich College

As we host these events, we will continue to cultivate a campus culture that prioritizes your safety and well-being. As President Farnam Jahanian has communicated several times in his community-wide messages: There is no place at Carnegie Mellon for any form of hate or prejudice.

We look forward to engaging with you this semester.

Best,

Richard Scheines Bess Family Dean, Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences

 Ramayaa Krishnan Dean, Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy