Revolution: Fall 2007
DePaul Students Mobilizing to Demand Rehiring of Norman Finkelstein
Something exciting is in the air at DePaul University. After the school denied tenure for Norman Finkelstein and Mehrene Larudee, a group of students, activated and determined to reverse the denial, emerged. In the face of administrative repression, some of these students participated in the 2007 US Social Forum (USSF) and drafted a resolution which included the following:
“We, the students of DePaul University attending the U.S. Social Forum 2007, declare that DePaul University is in violation of its own mission to guarantee academic freedom, and is demonstrating disregard for the fundamental values of freedom of speech and social justice…
“We demand that the decisions to deny tenure to Dr. Norman Finkelstein and Dr. Mehrene Larudee be reversed and request an official apology to the students, the faculty, the alumni, and those involved and affected by the decision.”
Students have also organized an important conference, called "In Defense of Academic Freedom." It will take place on October 12th at Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago. The scheduled speakers are Akeel Bilgrami, Noam Chomsky, Tony Judt, and John Mearsheimer. Norman Finkelstein and Mehrene Larudee will take part in a panel discussion moderated by Tariq Ali. The conference could play an important role both in reversing the denial of tenure decision against Finkelstein and Larudee and in building a movement to defend dissent and critical thinking in academia. For this reason, people should be on the lookout for attacks on the organizers and the University of Chicago. For more information, see their website at: http://www.academicfreedomchicago.org/
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