The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign has “revoked” its offer of an associate professorship position to Palestinian-American professor Steven Salaita because of the latter’s anti-Israel views, Inside Higher Ed reported today.
The university cited Salaita’s vocal opposition on Twitter to Israel’s latest attacks on Gaza as the reason behind the decision to not hire Salaita as associate professor of Native American studies. UIUC claims students taking Salaita’s class with pro-Israeli views would feel uncomfortable.
Inside Higher Ed writes:
The sources familiar with the university's decision say that concern grew over the tone of his comments on Twitter about Israel's policies in Gaza. While many academics at [UIUC] and elsewhere are deeply critical of Israel, Salaita's tweets have struck some as crossing a line into uncivil behavior.
Other sources maintain Salaita was technically fired as he had already been hired as a faculty member. If he had been hired by UIUC, Salaita could have greater legal resource should he choose to appeal the decision.
John Davis is an intern at In These Times.
