UMD President Faces Backlash for Plagiarizing ChatGPT in Defense of Anti-Israel Rally

University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines is under fire after it was revealed that he used content from ChatGPT to justify allowing a pro-Palestinian rally on campus, passing it off as original faculty research. The rally, organized by the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), took place on October 7, the anniversary of Hamas's brutal attack on Israel, and was framed as an event to honor “martyrs.”

Pines, facing criticism for allowing the rally, claimed he had consulted with “Middle East Scholars and Historians on our campus” regarding the Palestinian flag and its symbolism, stating that the flag “is not generally considered a symbol of hate.” However, an investigation by The Daily Wire uncovered that the text Pines cited as faculty consensus was largely lifted from ChatGPT.

When asked if he would similarly support the display of a Confederate flag on campus, Pines deflected, responding with a four-paragraph defense of the Palestinian flag, which mirrored answers generated by ChatGPT. The text Pines sent in an August 28 email closely echoed phrases produced by the AI tool, down to specific references to the “Palestinian quest for self-determination” and the description of the flag as a “symbol of national identity.”

In his defense, Pines insisted that his email reflected academic input, but it appears much of it came directly from ChatGPT, raising concerns about transparency and academic integrity at the university. The response also raises questions about how closely the administration aligns with pro-Palestinian elements on campus, particularly given Pines’s decision to form a Task Force on Antisemitism and Islamophobia, co-chaired by a professor with known anti-Israel views.

Moreover, Pines has drawn criticism for his handling of a Jewish resident’s inquiry about the event, particularly after the rally honored figures linked to Hamas—recognized as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. Despite this, Pines claimed that SJP did not support terrorism, ignoring SJP’s own statements advocating for “armed struggle” against Israel.

After public backlash and a report by The Daily Wire, the University System of Maryland stepped in, banning campus groups from holding events on October 7, effectively shutting down the rally. However, Pines, in his public statement, implied that the cancellation was to protect pro-Palestinian protesters, despite police reporting no threats.

As anti-Zionism and pro-Palestinian activism become more prevalent on American campuses, this incident serves as a reminder of the growing disconnect between university leadership and the concerns of pro-Israel students and their families.

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