Email sent to Professor Donald Chambers, Chair, University Senates committee of UI system

Sunday 24 August

Dear Professor Chambers

I was extremely disappointed to see you sign the Board’s letter, despite your position as Chair of the University Senates Conference. I felt shocked that you would allow a unilateral imposition of a “civility” standard that is dangerously vague and apparently to be placed under the judgment of university administrators.

I have spent many hours in the Faculty Senate of my home institution, and I am introducing a resolution at our first meeting this fall semester that will specifically mention this failure of judgment and betrayal of both academic freedom and faculty governance.

I urge you to reconsider your affirmation of this disastrous statement and to lead the Faculty Senates of the great institutions of the entire University of Illinois system in affirming not only Professor Salaita’s offer but also condemning and revoking this dangerous and unwarranted “civility” standard.

Respectfully yours,

John Protevi
Louisiana State University

My institutional affiliation is given solely for identification purposes and does not imply that I speak for the institution.