New York, December 11 – An Indian-origin PhD student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been suspended until January 2026 due to his pro-Palestine activism. The student, Prahlad Ayangar, is appealing the decision, which could severely impact his academic career.
According to a post by the group MIT Coalition Against Apartheid on platform X, Ayangar, a National Science Foundation (NSF) Fellow, faces the termination of his five-year fellowship and other academic consequences as a result of the suspension.
Appealing the Decision
Ayangar, a PhD student in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, is presenting his case to the MIT Chancellor, which the group describes as "the final opportunity to stop this persecution and restore his academic dignity."
The group stated, “This suspension is the most severe of several sanctions imposed as a result of his speech-related activities, including an article on Palestine that he authored for the student-run magazine Written Revolution.”
Impact of Suspension
The suspension could have significant repercussions on Ayangar’s academic and professional trajectory. The group emphasized that his dismissal raises questions about academic freedom and the consequences of political expression within university settings.
As the case unfolds, it has drawn attention from free speech advocates and student organizations concerned about the balance between activism and institutional policies at prestigious academic institutions like MIT.
