Amid ongoing anti-Israel protests at college campuses across the United States, Northwestern University has drawn attention for reaching an agreement with protesters that some observers are calling controversial. This development is intertwined with the background of one of Northwestern’s professors, Zayd Ayers Dohrn, who has familial ties to a historically significant radical group.
Zayd Ayers Dohrn, currently a professor and director of the MFA in Writing for Screen and Stage in the Department of Radio/Television/Film at Northwestern, is the son of Bernardine Rae Dohrn and Bill Ayers. Both were leaders of the Weather Underground, a far-left militant organization active in the late 1960s and 1970s, known for its involvement in bombings of government buildings and other acts of domestic terrorism in protest against the Vietnam War.
The Weather Underground targeted notable sites such as the Pentagon, the U.S. Capitol, and the State Department, alongside other locations, aiming to provoke change through violent means. The group’s activities resulted in injuries and a death, further marking its legacy as one of the most notorious radical groups in U.S. history.
In a recent development at Northwestern, the university agreed to certain demands from protesters, including the reestablishment of an advisory committee on university investments, which has led to varied reactions. Some critics within the Israeli-supporting community have labeled the university’s concession as a capitulation to pressure, whereas some protest participants have expressed disappointment, feeling that the agreement did not fully meet their demands.
Zayd Ayers Dohrn’s background adds a layer of complexity to the situation, given his parents’ notorious past. Dohrn has publicly discussed his upbringing in a family led by radical figures, noting in various forums his awareness from a young age of his parents’ identities and the reasons behind their actions. His mother, Bernardine Dohrn, has been quoted expressing regret over not having been more militant, highlighting the intensity of her radical commitment during her active years.
The university’s decision to engage with the demands of the protesters, alongside Dohrn’s faculty position at the institution, raises questions about the influence of radical legacies on contemporary academic and political discourses. Northwestern has stated that the agreement with protesters aims to ensure community safety while respecting free expression, as outlined by university officials including President Michael Schill.
This convergence of historical radicalism and current academic policy underlines the ongoing challenges and debates surrounding campus activism, the legacy of 1960s and 70s radical movements, and the role of universities in navigating complex political landscapes.