**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
October 10, 2007
Media Contact: Daniel Klimek
T: (773) 817-1291 E: Dpk24g@gmail.com
Press arrangements please contact:
University of Chicago News Office
T: (773) 702-8356. E: w-harms@uchicago.edu
“IN DEFENSE OF ACADEMIC FREEDOM”
PROMINENT SCHOLARS TO SPEAK OUT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
12 October 2007 - 2:00pm - 7:00 pm
Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago
October 12 2007 lecture featuring: Tariq Ali, Akeel Bilgrami, Noam Chomsky, Neve Gordon, Tony Judt and John Mearsheimer
CHICAGO,
IL – In light of the controversial tenure denials of eminent Middle
East scholar Dr. Norman G. Finkelstein and Dr. Mehrene Larudee earlier
this year at DePaul University, the most prominent scholars from across
the world will come together this Friday, October 12, 2007, at a
conference at the University of Chicago to speak lecturing about the
threats to academic freedom at universities.
Professors
Finkelstein and Larudee were both denied tenure at DePaul last June for
political purposes. After not being allowed to teach his terminal year
at DePaul, Finkelstein and the university settled on an agreement in
September, when Finkelstein resigned and DePaul acknowledged him to be
“a prolific scholar and an outstanding teacher.” Professor Larudee, who
was a strong supporter of both Finkelstein and Palestinian rights, is
currently appealing her case at DePaul. Both scholars will also appear
as panelists at the October 12 conference.
The event is to be held at the Rockefeller Chapel, 5850 S. Woodlawn Ave. Chicago, IL 60637. Scheduled speakers include:
- Dr. Akeel Bilgrami, Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy and Director of The Heyman Center, Columbia University
- Dr. Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Dr. Norman Finkelstein, (formerly) Department of Political Science, DePaul University
- Dr. John Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago
- Dr. Neve Gordon, Professor, Department of Politics and Government, Ben-Gurion University
- Dr. Tony Judt, University Professor and Director of the Remarque Institute, New York University
- Dr. Mehrene Larudee, International Studies Program, DePaul University
• Hosted by Tariq Ali, Editor of the New Left Review and Verso Books
The Event is Sponsored By:
Primary Sponsors
Diskord Magazine (University of Chicago, RSO), Verso Books (London), and Academic Freedom Committee (DePaul)
Co-Sponsors
University
of Chicago: Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Center for International
Studies, and International House Global Voices Program*
DePaul University: International Studies Program, Islamic World Studies Program, and Department of Philosophy*
Community Sponsors
Jewish
Voice for Peace - Chicago, American Friends Service Committee –
Chicago, and Committee for a Just Peace in Israel and Palestine (CJPIP)
*The
University of Chicago and DePaul University are not sponsoring the
event, only the listed departments and centers at these Universities.
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