 |
 |
                |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
DePaul Students Take a Stand - by Sitting In! Updates for June 13 http://depaulasu.net/ WHO: Student groups, community organizations, and all othersšin solidarity with DePaul Students Supporting Academic Freedom. WHERE: 55 East Jackson (corner of Wabash and Jackson, downtown Chicago), Executive Offices of DePaul University. WHEN: Wednesday, June 13th, at 11 AM. WHY: To pressure President Holtschneider to reverse his decision to deny tenure to Professors Finkelstein and Larudee. DePaul University recently acted to deny tenure to Professors Norman Finkelstein and Mehrene Larudee. Both professors are widely respected in their areas of study and have consistently amassed positive ratings from their students over the course of their professorial engagements. It is widely believed that the two professors were denied tenure solely based on their political views and specifically as a result of intrusive pressure from pro-Israeli parties, including Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz. Outraged DePaul students have taken action to defend academic freedom, which is currently under attack at the nation?s largest Catholic institution. After an unsuccessful meeting with DePaul President Fr. Dennis Holtschneider, where their demands were ignored, DePaul students are continuing their sit-in indefinitely at the President's office. This will be an ongoing effort. If you are unable to come on June 13th we encourage you to come throughout the week, said DePaul student organizeršBitta Mostofi. We ask the community to come and show solidarity with the students who are sitting-in for academic freedom at DePaul by rallying outside of the building.? On Wednesday, June 13, 2007, the Faculty Council will meet, in emergency session, with the University's Vice President to discuss the option of appeal, which the University has already denied to both professors. The DePaul students have been told that they must leave the offices by 12 Noon on Wednesday. If you have any questions, queries or comments, please feel free to call DePaul student Victor Lang at 312-576-1888 or email victor.lang22@gmail.com. See updated information atšhttp://chicago.indymedia.org/ and www.finkelgate.com. Picket convened by: DePaul Students Supporting Academic Freedom, Students for Justice for Finkelstein-DePaul, Students for Justice in Palestine-DePaul, UIC Students for Social Justice, and Wright College Students for Peace and Justice; plus community organizations includingšthe American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC)-Chicago, Arab American Action Network (AAAN),šChicago Coalition Against War and Racism, Council On American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-Chicago, Palestine Solidarity Group (PSG)-Chicago, and the Southwest Youth Collaborative.  Media Contact: Victor Lang (312) 576-1888 Media Advisory For Press Event: 11, 12 June 2007 Place: 22nd Floor, 55 East Jackson, Executive Offices of DePaul University DePaul Students Sit-In for Academic Freedom Upset over DePaul University’s denial of tenure to Professors Norman Finkelstein, and Mehrene Larudee, and after a meeting between 30 student leaders and DePaul President Fr. Dennis Holtschneider at his office, students have taken action to defend academic freedom which is under attack at the nation’s largest Catholic institution. After an unsuccessful meeting where their demands were ignored by the administration, DePaul students are continuing their sit-in overnight and through this week at the President’s office and plan to escalate action among the student body. Student leaders called for Fr. Holtschneider to grant the professors tenure. They presented him with a petition of over 700 signatures calling for a reversal of the decision, and engaged in a heated discussion on the legitimacy of the university’s decision. The decision made at the secretive University-level overturned the tenure decisions made at the Departmental and College-levels, which approved Finkelstein’s position by votes of 9-3 and 5-0, respectively. Students were surprised by Larudee’s rejection as she was unanimously approved by both the Departmental and University level tenure committees. The student leaders cite Finkelstein and Larudee’s positive peer reviewed scholarship and flaws in the tenure process as reasons why they should receive tenure. Denial of tenure to the professors means their employment at DePaul will be terminated. Finkelstein, son of holocaust survivors and outspoken critic of oppressive Israeli policy in Palestine, has come under attack from detractors like Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, who seeks to silence critics of Israel and has successfully interfered in internal DePaul tenure processes. Despite being in the midst of their hectic finals-week and upcoming graduation, student leaders are currently sacrificing their time by occupying the Executive Offices of DePaul University indefinitely until their demands for the tenure of Professors Finkelstein and Larudee are met. More information can be found at http://www.finkelgate.com Dear friends and supporters of academic freedom at DePaul, I am currently writing you with 7 others from the conference room to DePaul President Fr. Dennis Holtschneider's office, in support of Professors Finkelstein and Larudee. A couple of us are asleep, its kindof cute to see people sleeping underneath the tables (the lights are still on - we're still sortof working). EVERYONE, PLEASE COME TODAY! Who: DePaul Students supporting academic freedom Where: 22nd Floor, 55 East Jackson, Executive Offices of DePaul University What: Sit-in solidarity meeting When: Every day from 8AM-6PM Why: To reverse President Holtschneider's decision Yesterday (11 June 2007) a group of students occupied the conference room to President Holtschneider's office and met with him at 3:00 PM. 30 concerned student leaders issued a series of demands regarding Professor Finkelstein and Larudee's tenure processes. The President indicated that his decision was based on the faculty's decision, and that he would not reverse it. After a long emotional but finally disappointing discussion with President Holtschneider, we indicated that we intend to remain in the building until our demands have been met, and that we were in communication with various media outlets and other ancillary organizations. The President is allowing us to stay in the building. Please join us in our organized effort to reverse the decision in the name of academic freedom. Today (12 June 2007) and for the rest of the week, we are planning a series of activities to express solidarity for academic freedom, and in particular the tenure of Profs. Finkelstein and Larudee. There will be people in the conference room at all times to maintain our presence here. We understand that it is finals week and people are busy, but please sit with us as often as you can to offer your support. If you cannot remain in the Loop, please help us mobilize support in Lincoln Park by flyering the campus to generate publicity. If you plan to come please bring stationary if you can. We intend to make a number of posters to decorate the conference room as a gesture of our intention to remain here until we have been satisfied. It is imperative that more people step up tonight and take over the night shift! Thank you for all your help and support! If you have any questions, queries or comments, please feel free to email me here or call me at 312-576-1888. Please find our press release here: http://chicago.indymedia.org/newswire/display/78085/index.php. In peace and solidarity, Victor Matt Andrea Buddy Charile Susana Justin Daniel and the really nice public safey ppl, namely Christle, hanging out with us SHARE THIS POST:     |
|
|
|
  What we can do:
Video: On the place of civility in academic life (10.18.2007) Finkelstein's talk at the academic freedom conference Tenure Denial Letters (June - November, 2007) On How Actual Survivors Were Cheated by Jewish Organizations:
Communication for Middle East Journal. (02.19.2006) Alleged Errors in Beyond Chutzpah. (2005) MEMRI NAZIS (again) (10.23.2006)  New evidence of old lies (2005) Under the heading DIABOLICAL PLOTS, I stated in Beyond Chutzpah...    Articles and Reviews Related to The Holocaust Industry  Preface to German edition of The Rise and Fall of Palestine Postscript to German edition of The Rise and Fall of Palestine The Dershowitz File:
|
|