Illinois Professor Loses Job After Anti-Israel Tweets

By Sarah Nolan on August 12, 2014

[Courtesy of Yahoo Images]

On Aug. 1 Dr. Steven Salaita, a recently appointed professor at the University of Illinois, received a letter from Chancellor Dr. Phyllis Wise terminating his tenured position in the American Indian Studies program after he tweeted a string of anti-Israel remarks. Below are some of those tweets.

“It’s simple: either condemn #Israel’s actions or embrace your identity as someone who’s okay with the wholesale slaughter of children. #Gaza”

“It’s silly when white American kids pretend to be Middle Eastern. It’s unconscionable when they go play soldier in the Middle East. #Gaza”

“I will never, ever understand how people with children (or without children, for that matter) can support what #Israel is doing in #Gaza”

“Tax cuts? Who needs tax cuts? Apparently if you murder a bunch of Palestinian children, the US will give you tons of money! #Gaza”

“#Israel’s message to #Obama and #Kerry: we’ll kill as many Palestinians as we want, when we want. p.s.: f— you, pay me. #Gaza”

 “Only #Israel can murder around 300 children in the span of a few weeks and insist that it is the victim. #Gaza #GazaUnderAttack”

 “Note how many times Zionists use words like “savages” and “animals.” The bombing of #Gaza isn’t strategic. It is racist and punitive.”

 “I just got an email condemning my ‘slander of holy Israel.’ I reckon I can accept ‘slander’ but ‘holy’ seems a bit out of place.”

Salaita was offered the University job back in October. Following the offer, he resigned from his tenured position as an Associate Professor in the English Department at Virginia Tech and made plans to move to Illinois with his family. Salaita had even rented his house in Virginia in preparation for his departure.

Although an offer was made to Salaita, the Chancellor had to make a recommendation to the University’s Board of Trustees before the appointment became official. Chancellor Wise blocked the appointment before it went to the board for approval.

The American Association of University Professors released a statement on Aug. 7 regarding the case, referring to his comments as “strident and vulgar.” However, the association was quick to defend Salaita as well.

“Because both Professor Salaita and the university administration have so far declined public comment, a number of facts concerning the case remain unclear. In particular, it is not certain whether the job offer had already been made in writing when Professor Salaita was informed that he would not be hired and hence whether or not Salaita could be considered to have already acquired the rights accuring to a faculty member at Illinois.”

President Rudy Fichtenbaum and Vice-President Henry Reichman continued the statement by saying:

“While Professor Salaita’s scholarship does not appear to deal with the topic of Palestine, his posts were arguably not intended as scholarly statements but as expressions of personal viewpoint. Whether one finds these views attractive or repulsive is irrelevant to the right of a faculty member to express them.”

There is currently a petition circulating on Change.org for Professor Salaita’s immediate reinstatement. As of Sunday, Aug. 10 there are 12,557 signatures.

Neither the University nor Salaita have publicly responded to media questions. However, Salaita has remained active on Twitter: @stevensailaita.

Interestingly though, Salaita’s opinion on the Israeli – Palestinian conflict were no secret before he tweeted his remarks. He is the author of six books regarding the controversial issue, including “Israel’s Dead Soul” and “Anti-Arab Racism in the USA.”

According to CNN, the Center for Constitutional Rights has advised Salaita to take legal action. Baher Azmy is the legal director for the organization and calls the incident a “serious First Amendment violation.” It is unclear as to whether or not Salaita will do so.

“He resigned from a job that gave him tenure, the pinnacle of academic achievement, with the expectation that he would have tenure at the next university and it was taken away in an unlawfully retaliatory way for his political views,” Azmy said.

Michael Dickerson, a 20-year old junior majoring in Advertising at the University of Illinois supports Chancellor Wise’s decision to terminate Salaita’s appointment.

“I’m not sure that Mr. Salaita has been keeping up with current Illini news. Unfortunate events such as the F—Phyllis fiasco have put a damper on our bright campus. Our university has strived to promote an inclusive campus where all cultures are respected and appreciated. I see Inclusive Illinois flyers in various university buildings around campus and on UIUC’s social media landscape,” he said.

“Cultural sensitivity is an issue U of I is taking very seriously and Mr. Salaita’s public tweets and vehement beliefs line up against this key value. Mr. Salatia can have his own opinion from a public relations viewpoint. I think Mr. Salatia backed the university into a corner that only a dismissal of his services would suffice the public.”

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