In Defense of Academic Freedom

In Defense of Academic Freedom

12 October 2007 - 2:00pm - 7:00 pm
Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago

Featuring:

• Dr. Akeel Bilgrami, Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy and Director of The Heyman Center, Columbia University
• Dr. Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Dr. Tony Judt, University Professor and Director of the Remarque Institute, New York University
• Dr. John Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago
• Dr. Neve Gordon, Professor, Department of Politics and Government, Ben-Gurion University

Hosted by:

• Tariq Ali, Editor of the New Left Review and Verso Books

Admission is free ($5 suggested donation) and open to the public

Presented by DePaul Academic Freedom Committee, Diskord Journal (University of Chicago) and Verso Books

Rockefeller Chapel is located on the
University of Chicago's campus:

5850 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60637

For more information, please email us at: info@academicfreedomchicago.org
http://www.academicfreedomchicago.org

26 August 2007 - "In Defense of Academic Freedom" - DePaul Students Launch Website and Organize Lecture

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
26 August 2007
Media Contact: Daniel Klimek
Tel: 773-817-1291
Email: dpk24g@gmail.com
http://www.academicfreedomchicago.org

“In Defense of Academic Freedom” – DePaul Students and Community Launch Website and Organize Lecture to Highlight Violations

October 12 2007 lecture featuring: Tariq Ali, Akeel Bilgrami, Noam Chomsky, Tony Judt and John Mearsheimer

CHICAGO, IL -- DePaul University students, concerned over the controversial tenure denials of Dr. Norman Finkelstein and Dr. Mehrene Larudee by its administration, have launched a website (http://www.academicfreedomchicago.org) and have organized a conference to highlight the threat to academic freedom in universities. Since the tenure denials, prominent scholars across the country have begun speaking out.

On October 12, 2007, the DePaul University Academic Freedom Committee, International Studies Program and Department of Philosophy, Diskord Journal (University of Chicago) and Verso Books will host a panel lecture featuring:
• Dr. Akeel Bilgrami, Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy and Director of The Heyman Center, Columbia University
• Dr. Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Dr. Tony Judt, University Professor and Director of the Remarque Institute, New York University
• Dr. John Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago
• Dr. Neve Gordon, Professor, Department of Politics and Government, Ben-Gurion University
Hosted by:
• Tariq Ali, Editor of the New Left Review and Verso Books

DePaul students have been protesting for academic freedom since June 2007, when tenure was denied to Professors Finkelstein and Larudee. After a meeting between 30 student leaders and DePaul President Dennis Holtschneider, the students hosted a sit-in in the executive offices of the president. The students were evicted, after several days, under the threat of expulsion. Students furthermore organized a visible protest at DePaul’s graduation ceremonies, where countless graduates also refused to shake Fr. Holtshneider’s hand, and recently numerous students publicly fasted for one-and-half weeks to express their seriousness and self-control regarding these vital issues and academic injustices.

# # #

Letter to DePaul President Holtschneider about Student Fast

Fr. Dennis Holtschneider
Office of the President
DePaul University
55 E. Jackson, 22nd Floor
Chicago, IL 60602

Dear Fr. Holtschneider,

This letter is to inform you of the actions students are currently taking in response to the violation of academic freedom and the tenure process at DePaul University. Recently, the decision was made to deny tenure to professors Dr. Norman Finkelstein and Dr. Mehrene Larudee despite being approved at both the departmental and college-level. We believe that their denials were politically motivated and that you should reverse them. As President of DePaul University we feel that it is your responsibility to uphold justice in academia and the honor attached to our degree, both of which has eroded in the past month.

After our last meeting in your Executive Offices, when you retracted your offer to provide us a location for our sit-in after only three days, we realize that you do not understand how seriously we see this matter. We have begun a liquid fast to express how seriously we regard the infringement of academic freedom at DePaul, as well as to demonstrate our level of determination, control, and self-restraint. We will be meditating and reflecting upon recent events and on our own understanding of what has taken place. Over the past few weeks, we have been inspired by the overwhelming support of our fellow students and alumni; our motivation for this action has not and will not diminish one thousandth of one inch.

Our program will continue to escalate as weeks and months pass, and will only build greater support once the Fall quarter begins. While this fast is only the first, we assure you that our fasts for this purpose will become regular and that they will only increase in length and numbers with each occasion. We invite you to join us in our fast for academic freedom. After careful thought and meditation perhaps you will realize the damage DePaul has performed upon its students as well as the university’s credibility.

Your intention not to alter your decision regarding the two tenure cases has been clear, but we hope that our fast demonstrates our steadfast commitment and determination. We continue to demand the following:

• Issue a public apology to Dr. Finkelstein and Dr. Larudee,
• Recognize the appeals process espoused in resolutions passed by the Faculty Council and the Faculty Governance Council,
• Discard the Dept. of Political Science minority report from Dr. Finkelstein’s tenure file,
• Include the Dept. of Political Science faculty response (dated 12 April 2007) to Dean Charles Suchar’s report on Dr. Finkelstein,
• Investigate the University Board for Tenure and Promotion (UBTP) decisions on tenure and promotion made in this past year, and
• To reverse the decision of the UBTP regarding Dr. Larudee and Dr. Finkelstein’s tenure, and to grant them their deserved tenure and promotion to Associate Professor.

Please feel free to visit our website at www.finkelgate.com, you can reply to us at finkelgate@gmail.com, or visit us at the Student Center as we continue our fast in public.

Sincerely,
Academic Freedom Committee – DePaul Students