以色列裔历史学家拉兹·塞格尔在明尼苏达大学经历了一场职位风波。[1]该大学在2024年6月5日向塞格尔提供大屠杀与种族灭绝研究中心主任一职，但仅五天后的6月10日便撤回了录用通知。[1]塞格尔曾在2023年10月撰文表示，以色列在加沙的行动构成"种族灭绝的典范"，这一言论引发了广泛争议。[1]
撤回职位通知后引发多方反应。[1]69名州议员在2024年6月13日联署信函，表示对大学暂停聘用塞格尔感到"高兴"。[1]与此同时，40位犹太大屠杀与种族灭绝学者签署信函，批评该大学的举动设立了"危险先例"。[1]校内教职员会也对临时校长和教务长投出不信任票。[1]
经过两年多的诉讼，塞格尔与明尼苏达大学达成和解协议，获得25万美元赔偿。[1]根据披露的电子邮件，捐赠者、犹太社区关系委员会等组织曾对大学官员进行协调施压，试图影响这一人事决定。[1]塞格尔本人是犹太人、以色列-美国双重国籍，并为四位大屠杀幸存者的孙子。[1]
Raz Segal, an Israeli-American historian and Holocaust scholar, was offered the directorship of the Holocaust and Genocide Center at the University of Minnesota in June 2024, only to have the position rescinded five days later [1]. The university withdrew its offer on June 10, 2024, following controversy over Segal's earlier statements characterizing Israel's actions in Gaza as "a textbook case of genocide" [1].
More than two years after the rejection, Segal and the university reached a $250,000 settlement agreement [1]. Emails revealed in connection with the settlement disclosed a coordinated pressure campaign targeting university officials, involving donors, Jewish community relations organizations, and pro-Israel advocates [1]. In June 2024, 69 state legislators signed a joint letter expressing satisfaction with the university's decision to suspend Segal's hiring [1].
The controversy drew responses from both supporters and critics of the university's action. Forty Jewish scholars of Holocaust and genocide studies signed a letter condemning the university's decision as setting a "dangerous precedent" [1]. Within the university itself, faculty voted to express no confidence in the interim chancellor and provost [1]. Segal, a Jewish professor with Israeli-American citizenship and grandson of four Holocaust survivors, had written his contentious Gaza commentary in October 2023 [1].