An Arizona State University faculty member has been placed on administrative leave following a heated exchange caught on video at a pro-Israel rally, where he is seen cursing at and aggressively confronting a woman wearing a headscarf. The incident, which unfolded this past Sunday in front of the university, involved Jonathan Yudelman, a postdoctorate research scholar within ASU's School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership.
In the footage, which swiftly reverberated across social media, Yudelman is heard escalating the confrontation, telling the woman, "I'm literally in your face," to which she responds by underscoring the disrespect shown towards her religious boundaries. According to 12News, Yudelman retorted, "You disrespect my sense of humanity, b****," all while advancing towards the women who appeared unsettled.
The video, approximately 58 seconds in length, was disseminated across pro-Palestinian social media circles, although the original source and context surrounding the events preceding and succeeding the recording remain unclear. Yudelman, as noted in the course catalog, taught classes centered around American politics and ethics last school year. Fresh revelations from this altercation put his role in fostering university discourse under scrutiny.
Following the incident, ASU released a brief statement, excerpted by DataLounge, informing the public that the university "is aware of the allegations against Jonathan Yudelman and is investigating them. Dr. Yudelman is on leave and will remain so pending the outcome of the investigation." Attempts by 12News to contact Yudelman for a comment have yet gone unanswered.
This occurrence feeds into a larger narrative of tension on campus, previously spotlighted by concerns from Jewish students feeling uncomfortable amid weeks of pro-Palestinian protests. The gravity of the situation signals an urgent need for a dialogue on the coexistence of differing viewpoints in academic environments, a challenge brought into sharp relief by this latest provocation at ASU.
