DePaul Students Protest for Academic Freedom
DePaul students protested peacefully at the graduation ceremony of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LA&S) on Sunday 17 June 2007, which was held at Allstate Arena. The protest included banners on the sides of the auditorium as well as graduates holding signs and handing letters of protest to DePaul University President Fr. Dennis Holtschneider upon receipt of their diploma.
Students have been protesting for academic freedom since Monday 11 June after tenure was denied to Professors Norman Finkelstein and Mehrene Larudee. After a meeting between 30 student leaders and the DePaul President, the students sat-in the executive offices of Fr. Holtschneider. The students were evicted under the threat of expulsion. The denial of tenure to Professors Finkelstein and Larudee symbolizes a harsh suppression of academic freedom. In several meetings across campus, DePaul faculty has expressed concern over their ability to perform scholarship without the threat of internal repression. Some have already decided to self-censor some scholarly submissions.
Students are planning a series of summer events, including a hunger strike and academic forum where the students will teach research of DePaul professors Norman Finkelstein and Mehrene Larudee.
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