John Strauss, a professor of economics at the University of Southern California (USC), recently had a confrontation with pro-Palestinian students calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The students, who were captured on video sharing their opinions on social media, called for the destruction of Israel. As a response, several activist groups demanded action against Strauss, and a petition for his termination received 7,000 signatures. The university placed him on leave pending an investigation but later allowed him to continue teaching remotely. Strauss claims that he was misquoted, stating that he did not call for the killing of all Palestinians, but rather for the destruction of Hamas. Free speech groups criticized USC for giving in to the protesters and called for an end to the investigation. The university did not respond to a request for comment. The situation highlights the issue of using Title IX bureaucracy against free speech, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rights of students and faculty to express their opinions on contentious issues. The article argues that it is wrong to punish a Jewish professor for desiring Hamas’ destruction, as it is not controversial.