WEB EXCLUSIVE: Columbia alumna Kemati Janice Porter
5
has been selected to temporarily run eta Creative Arts Foundation, the much admired, African-American theatrical group. For the full story, visit ColumbiaChronicle.com. Online exclusive video
Opinions: Advertisements still fail to
Wise Ass is a flop – April Fools’!
portray “real” women. See PG. 35
Spring 2014
Weeks Left
No. 1 Non-Daily College Newspaper in the Nation MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2014
The OFFICIAl news source of Columbia college chicago
Volume 49, Issue 25
‘ Israeli / Palestinian Conflict ’ section reinstated AAUP inquiry contends college violated professor’s academic freedom
Associate Editor The second section of adjunct professor Iymen Chehade’s “The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict” course has been reinstated after an American Association of University Professors report concluded the college violated Chehade’s academic freedom. However, the college disputes the report’s findings and denies the class was reinstated in response to the report. Prompting a petition that led to the March 25 AAUP investigation,
the issues surrounding the canceled section galvanized national support for Chehade, as reported March 31 by The Chronicle. The AAUP’s Illinois Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure agreed that Chehade’s academic freedom was violated following an allegedly contentious meeting between Chehade and Steven Corey, chair of the Humanities, History & Social Sciences Department. The report states that the meeting was directly linked to the removal of one section of “The Israeli/Palestinian Conflict” course after it
had been posted for registration on OASIS, the online student portal. Corey disputes the report and said the course was removed because of enrollment policies. Corey said departments plan course offerings based on the previous year’s enrollment figures, referring to a spring 2013 class Chehade taught that had only 12 enrolled students with a maximum capacity of 25. “The classes are assigned based on enrollment,” Corey said. “We anticipate enough enrollment in the fall to justify two sections of the class.”
OCTOBER 2013
NOVEMBER 2013
MARCH 2014
Iymen Chehade, adjunct history professor, and Steven Corey, chair of HHSS, meet to discuss a student’s complaint against Chehade. Chehade alleges that Corey told him to alter his curriculum for “The Israeli/ Palestinian Conflict” course. Corey denies Chehade’s claim.
Two sections of Chehade’s class are posted on OASIS when spring registration begins. Hours later, one section is removed from OASIS and canceled by Corey.
A Change.org petition calling for the reinstatement of the section of Chehade’s class goes live. The petition collected more than 6,000 signatures.
MARCH 20 Chehade and several of his supporters host a forum on academic freedom at Columbia. Students, staff and community members attend the forum.
Despite low enrollment in Chehade’s spring 2013 class, OASIS records show that Chehade’s fall 2013 sections were nearly full with 23 and 24 students enrolled. Chehade said he is pleased with the reinstatement of his second class but has yet to hear from administrators about his case. “The issues of academic freedom still have to be addressed,” Chehade said. “[The college] still has yet to come out and say, ‘We acknowledge this issue and we want to work with you to make sure it never happens again.”
MARCH 25 The Illinois chapter of the American Association of University Professors releases a report on its investigation into Chehade’s claims and states that his academic freedom was violated.
Chehade said he agrees with the findings and recommendations of the AAUP’s report. “I wasn’t surprised given the experience I went through,” Chehade said. “It was wonderful to see an independent organization doing an independent investigation that came to that conclusion.” However, the college is challenging the report. Steve Kauffman, senior director of public relations, released an April 1 statement from the college saying the AAUP failed
xx SEE CHEHADE, Pg. 8
MARCH 27 Corey releases a statement criticizing the AAUP’s findings, alleging that the association inserted itself into an ongoing labor dispute.
MARCH 31 Chehade receives two sections of his "Israeli/Palestinian Conflict" course for the fall 2014 semester. The college denies that the reinstatement of the second section is related to the AAUP finding and petition.
Donald Wu The Chronicle
Tyler Eagle
State tries to scrub away microbeads Maria CAstellucci Photo Illustration Anthony Soave The Chronicle
Metro Editor The tiny plastic beads found in
exfoliating cleansers may unclog pores, but environmental researchers claim they also clog waterways, harm marine life and pollute local lakes, prompting state legislators to push for a bead ban. The proposal, introduced March 14 by Sen. Heather Steans (D–Chicago), would outlaw the production and sale of microbeads used in cosmetic products, which are toxic and pollute the Great Lakes in addition to harming the marine wildlife that inadvertently consume them, according to Steans. Major metropolitan cities contribute greatly to the high concentration of cosmetic microbeads in the Great Lakes, said Olga Lyandres, research manager at the Alliance for the Great Lakes.
The beads’ size makes it impossible for filters to eliminate them before water reaches lakes, according to Jennifer Caddick, engagement director at the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Though Chicago doesn’t discharge sewage into the lake, many cities do and the pollution from these other sources makes Chicago’s main water source a public health threat.
“Having this [proposal] in effect in Illinois, where a huge metropolitan area is located, is going to be a major step forward in terms of eliminating pollutants from Lake Michigan and local waterways,” Lyandres said. The cosmetic microbeads not only pollute the lake but also harm
Carolina Sanchez The Chronicle Special Olympics Chicago plans to build a $31 million sports complex near the intersection of 14th Street and Damen Avenue.
Special Olympics Chicago moves forward with sports complex Megan Bennett Contributing Writer
xx SEE MICROBEADS, Pg. 35
The Illinois Medical District may soon be home to a $31 million Special Olympics sports complex that would increase accessibility to health resources for individuals with disabilities. Special Olympics Chicago met with the Illinois Medical District Commission on March 18 to
Chicago shelter rescues death row dogs • pg. 20
Remembering Frankie Knuckles • pg. 17
propose building practice fields, a 2,700-seat stadium and a field house near the intersection of 14th Street and Damen Avenue that would offer training programs and competitions for athletes with disabilities. Heather Tarczan, director of Communications and Administration for the Illinois Medical District
xx SEE OLYMPICS, Pg. 35
No plug, no problem • pg. 13 T he Columbia C hronicle