While prospective pieces are typically available for the Law Review's roughly 100 members to assess ahead of publication, the "Nakba" piece was handled behind closed doors by a group of roughly 30 student editors, according to Columbia Law School professor Joshua Mitts.
While that group edited the piece "over several months," Mitts said, other editors—including Jews—were unaware even of the piece’s existence until Saturday, just two days before its publication. ...
"The secrecy that surrounded this article's editing and substantiation review is unacceptable," the board wrote in its letter. "It is also unprecedented, in that every piece is either worked on by, or available on request to, all student editors during the editing process."
"Whatever the intent, such secrecy is a profound deviation from the norms of respect, trust, and collegiality on which the Review depends. It also invariably raises questions about the adequacy of the editing and substantiation processes to which the piece was subjected."
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