University of Arkansas trustees uphold Middle East studies professor’s firing over online posts

By: Ainsley Platt

Outlets: Arkansas Advocate

Published: May 20, 2026

Words: 534

Last Updated: 2 months ago

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The University of Arkansas System Board of Trustees upheld the termination Wednesday of the tenured former director of UA Fayetteville’s Middle East studies center over social media posts and reposts that school attorneys said were violent and anti-semitic.

Shirin Saeidi was initially fired as director of the King Fahd Center for Middle East Studies in December over the posts about Israel and Iran. The 10-member board voted to accept that recommendation.

UA Fayetteville’s Faculty …

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