University of Illinois officials say they withdrew the faculty appointment of Stephen Salaita in order to support civility, and that it was not an attack on academic freedom.
Salaita’s appointment to teach American Indian Studies at the U of I Urbana campus was withdrawn earlier this month, after he posted controversial tweets about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
In a statement to campus sent today, Chancellor Phyllis Wise says she strongly supports academic freedom, but could not support quote “personal and disrespectful words or actions that demean and abuse either viewpoints themselves, or others who express them”. Her statement was supported by a follow-up statement signed by U of I trustees and top administrators.
Robert Warrior calls both statements “inadequate.” He directs the American Indian Studies Program, and recommended Salaita for the job.
“This is a very dark period in the history of this institution and it’s going to be remembered in this way in the future. The people who signed their names to this letter will be remembered for making it that way.”
Salaita has not commented publicly on the controversy, except to thank his supporters. Those supporters have organized a boycott, calling on other college faculty to cancel speaking engagements at the Urbana campus.