Campus Clash: Two Students Face Hate Crime Charges
A confrontation outside DePaul’s student center in November 2024 has led to serious legal consequences for two men. The incident involved former Israeli soldier Max Long and fellow Jewish student Michael Kaminsky, both of whom were attacked by masked assailants.
Key Players
| Name | Age | Current Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Kasem Noubani | 24 | Two hate‑crime charges + aggravated battery |
| Adam Erkan | 20 | Already charged with similar offenses earlier this year |
The Assault
- Weapons: fists, soda cans, water bottles
- Injuries:
- Max Long: concussion + ongoing memory issues, requires specialist visits
- Michael Kaminsky: broken wrist
Surveillance footage pieced together the sequence of events:
- Noubani and Erkan met beforehand, both wearing masks.
- Erkan approached Long & Kaminsky, then fled in a silver SUV.
- Noubani attacked from behind; later discarded his sweatshirt and mask in trash—DNA linked him to these items.
Erkan had previously pleaded guilty to a battery charge and identified Noubani as the attacker. Noubani was apprehended in Arkansas during a traffic stop and returned to Illinois for trial, with his next court appearance scheduled for Tuesday.
Background & Legal Context
- Past Convictions: Both attackers had a 2024 trespassing conviction during the Democratic National Convention, breaching security fences amid pro‑Palestinian protests.
- University Liability: Long and Kaminsky have sued DePaul, alleging the university failed to protect them on campus.
Campus Climate
The assault occurred after pro‑Palestinian students at DePaul erected an encampment demanding an end to the Gaza conflict—an action mirrored on other university campuses in spring 2024.
