A Portland State University professor declared “I am Hamas” during a pro-Palestinian protest and has been placed on leave. The university is now investigating while facing broader scrutiny over its handling of antisemitism.
Key Facts:
- A PSU professor said “I am Hamas” at a June 2 protest in Beaverton, Oregon, supporting a school board member under fire for antisemitic posts.
- The university president confirmed the professor’s identity and placed her on administrative leave pending an internal investigation.
- The professor has been identified by local media as Yasmeen Hanoosh, an Arabic professor at PSU.
- PSU is already under federal investigation for possible Title VI violations related to antisemitism on campus.
- Recent unrest on campus included a library takeover that caused over $1.2 million in damages and led to more than 30 arrests.
The Rest of The Story:
The controversy began when a Portland State University professor participated in a June 2 protest in support of Tammy Carpenter, a school board member criticized for antisemitic social media posts.
During the protest, captured on video by Willamette Week, the professor declared, “I am Hamas,” and added, “We are all Hamas,” in response to a bystander’s question.
PSU President Ann Cudd released a statement disavowing the remarks.
“The individual makes statements, ‘I am Hamas. We are all Hamas,’” she said. “Portland State University stands unequivocally against antisemitism, terrorism, and hate of any kind.”
Cudd confirmed the professor has been placed on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted.
The professor, identified by KOIN-TV and advocacy group StandWithUs Northwest as Yasmeen Hanoosh, teaches Arabic in the university’s Department of World Languages and Literatures.
Her biography remains online, though her photo has been removed.
Commentary:
It’s good that Portland State University at least acted quickly to put the professor on leave.
Publicly declaring support for Hamas—a terrorist group responsible for the October 7 massacre of Israeli civilians—should be a red line, especially at an institution funded by taxpayers.
However, given PSU’s recent history and the prevailing politics in Oregon, it’s hard to believe this is anything more than a short-term PR stunt.
The university knows it’s under federal investigation for Title VI violations, and it’s doing damage control.
The real question is whether the professor will actually be disciplined or simply reinstated after the public’s attention fades.
This is the same university where protesters took over a library, caused over a million dollars in damage, and still managed to get the administration’s ear.
The leadership’s track record doesn’t inspire confidence that it will truly stand against antisemitism when push comes to shove.
Moreover, the fact that such a statement—“I am Hamas”—was made publicly by a university professor without immediate disavowal from faculty peers speaks volumes.
Would the same tolerance be extended to a professor proclaiming “I am ISIS”? Of course not.
The double standard is glaring.
It’s especially troubling given the wave of antisemitic incidents nationwide, many of them linked to far-left campus activism.
For all their talk of “inclusion” and “equity,” too many academic institutions have become breeding grounds for hatred—so long as that hatred is directed at Jews or Israel.
No one should be surprised this happened in Oregon, a state where hard-left ideology dominates nearly every institution.
The university culture there isn’t just permissive of anti-Israel rhetoric—it actively rewards it.
The federal investigation under Title VI is a good step, but enforcement needs teeth.
It’s not enough to issue statements and launch internal reviews.
Real consequences must follow when lines are crossed—especially when it involves a professor using their public platform to endorse terrorism.
The Bottom Line:
Portland State’s decision to place a professor on leave after her “I am Hamas” remark appears more reactive than principled.
Given Oregon’s political climate and PSU’s record, many doubt this will lead to meaningful consequences.
As antisemitism continues rising on college campuses, the real test is whether universities will act with integrity—or just cover their tracks.
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