The Steven Salaita Debate: More than Just a Case of Tweets

The University of Illinois is in the midst of a debate, a debate that is underlining the academic freedom and limitations one can have on a campus complete with students from a wide range of backgrounds. 

 

The topic of Steven Salaita’s rescinded job offer is a controversial one, one that reflects the importance of being aware of national and international affairs. But, most importantly, it is a topic that exemplifies the diverse and opinionated world we live in and the steps a university and all within it must take in a nation and campus that guarantees the notion of free speech.

 

 

The University of Illinois originally offered a teaching position to Steven Salaita. A former associate professor of English at Virginia Tech, Salaita was set to join the American Indian studies program at the university. Upon receiving the news of his job offer, Salaita resigned from Virginia Tech, sold his home and relocated his family to the University of Illinois campus.

 

However, he was notified shortly after by email from University of Illinois Chancellor, Phyllis Wise, that his appointment for approval of his position by the Board of Trustees, typically a formality, had been canceled and his job offer rescinded. According to an article by Robert Mackey for The New York Times, this happened because a series of tweets sent out by the professor about the attack of Gaza were considered “anti-semitic by a campaign of pro-Israel students, faculty members and donors.”

 

The university’s decision to no longer proceed with the hiring of Salaita continues to leave students standing on two sides of the fence.

 

Ryan Kenji Kuramitsu, a senior in the school of Social Work at the University of Illinois, has seen students and faculty in support of Salaita demonstrate their opinion on the subject matter.

 

 

“I have seen demonstrations for Salaita,” Kuramitsu said. “It’s not like I’ve been walking around campus and seen people holding signs randomly, but I have attended, planned and organized demonstrations where hundreds of students, faculty and employees of the university have all come out to support him. That’s been really encouraging to see.”

 

The event has garnered attention locally as well as nationally.

 

“The attention that has been directed towards our university internationally and nationally is really exciting,” Kuramitsu said. “You have people who are working for Inside Higher Ed, international policy analysts and constitutional law professors from the University of Chicago; all of these people are writing articles and talking about the situation even though it seems as if a majority of our students don’t have knowledge on it.”

 

More so than showcasing the overall issues taking place in Gaza, the event has boiled down to a debate of ethics. 

 

To Kuramitsu, the entire situation is one any person can learn from.

 

“I think that lesson [we can learn] will change if he is hired back. Another lesson to learn here is that when something wrong happens, you will see mobilization from students, faculty and community members nationally and internationally.”

 

 

Salaita has yet to be reinstated to the university, but in an article he wrote for The Chicago Tribune titled “Steven Salaita: U of I destroyed my career,” he details his viewpoint on the continuous debate. 

 

“This is the reality-TV version of my story, which has disturbing implications for the future of American universities that reach far beyond my job prospects,” Salaita said in the article.

 

However, the view on this topic isn’t a campus-wide consent. Plenty of students agree; the university has no obligation to hire someone, especially someone who is influencing thousands of young minds. 

 

“I think that the school made the right choice in refusing to hire him. I wouldn’t want to be in a class where the teacher was making racist remarks, no matter who he was offending. I’m sure there are plenty of well-qualified teachers capable of taking his position, and I hope they do,” said Stephanie Meyers, sophomore. 

 

Clearly, the debate still continues on this campus, and it is important to recognize that the issue has evolved into a case about freedom of speech and academic integrity.