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THE DAILY ILLINI The independent student newspaper at the University of Illinois since 1871
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Vol. 145 Issue 28
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UI looks to remove censure
BY ABIGALE SVOBODA NEWS EDITOR
The University is not fulfilling its “basic purpose,” according to the American Association of University Professors, AAUP. On June 13, the AAUP censured the University for violating Steven Salaita’s rights to academic freedom. Robin Kaler, campus spokeswoman, confirmed that both Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson and President Timothy Killeen are taking measures to ensure the censure’s removal. Here’s The Daily Illini’s breakdown and how it impacts the campus.
What is censure? According to AAUP, a college or university is censured if the association fi nds the academic freedom environment to be unsatisfactory. In its 1940 “Statement of Principles”, the AAUP believes universities exist for the “common good” and are dependent on “free search for truth and its free expression.
+RZ GRHV FHQVXUH Dij HFW WKH University? In reality, only the administration is censured. Students and faculty aren’t; however, that doesn’t mean they aren’t affected. Overtime, censure can hurt the University’s ability to recruit the same caliber of its current faculty, therefore harming students’ education. The AAUP guidelines are widely accepted by universities, thus when the association notes a university as in conflict with its principals, professors and researchers may not want to work there.
From an expert: censure won’t be lifted soon John Wilson, co-editor of the AAUP’s blog “Academe,” said the University is not on track to be removed. In order for censure to be lifted, the University must reconcile with Salaita and change its policies. The University changed the timeline of its hiring but has not amended with Salaita yet. He said the outcome of his lawsuit could play a major role in the decision.
CENSURE TIMELINE
2014
Why was the University censured?
Aug. 22 Students stage sit-in outside of the Board of Trustees Executive Committee meeting
Former Chancellor Phyllis Wise
On Aug. 1, 2014 Salaita received an email from former chancellor Phyllis Wise, stating she wouldn’t recommend his appointment as a tenured professor in the American Indian Studies department to the Board of Trustees. New hires must receive board approval after they’re offered a position. Because it’s rare for the board to reject new candidates, approval was given after a faculty member already began teaching. Salaita’s tweets were criticized as anti-semitic, raising concerns about his position on campus. When Salaita’s offer was revoked, others raised concerns about academic freedom. On Sept. 11, 2014, the board voted not to hire him. The association defi ned Salaita’s tweets as extramural speech, meaning because he was not speaking in a teaching capacity, the University can’t hold them against him.
Then chancellor Phyllis Wise emailed Salaita to tell him he would not be teaching.
Steven Salaita The University revoked Salaita’s offer to teach at the University after he sent controversial tweets.
What is the University doing about it?
Board of Trustees
Kaler said there are no specific steps to have the censure lifted. However, Wilson and Killeen are talking with people who are upset about the situation. Additionally, Kaler said Wilson is working to learn more about what needs to be done to lift the censure.
The Board officially chose not to approve Salaita’s appointment at its meeting on Sept. 11, 2014.
The local AAUP Harry Hilton, AAUP local chapter president, said the University has made efforts to have the censure lifted. “We had frank and helpful discussions and all indicated that they were anxious to take appropriate steps that will lead to censure removal,” he said. But, Hilton said he requested to address the board at its September meeting but was declined because the matter is in court. When he requested to speak solely to the executive committee, Hilton said he never received a response. “Such refusals to communicate with an accredited faculty organization is inimical to the shared governance principles and counterproductive to the censure removal process,” he said.
Senate Executive Committee forms the Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure Aug. 26
Salaita’s job offer is revoked Aug. 1
KEY PLAYERS
Board of Trustees denies Salaita’s appointment Sept. 11
Aug. 29 University departments issue vote of no confidence in Wise
Salaita files suit against the University in Champaign County Circuit Court for violating the Freedom of Information Act Nov. 16
Sept. 22 Students protest Salaita’s dismissal at the Academic Senate meeting
The AAUP Censured the University on June 13.
DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTOS
2015
University ordered to preserve all documents related to Salaita Sept. 29
Board reaffirms decision not to hire Salaita Jan. 15
Jan. 29 Salaita files suit against the University in Federal Court
Dec. 23 CAFT recommends the University reconsider Salaita’s appointment
University to make sexual assault resources more gender inclusive
SEE ASSAULT | 3A
SEE IT’S ON US | 3A
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Education representatives. In addition, Hill served as a part of the It’s On Us task force chaired by himself and Hochman. The task force’s efforts led to the University having the most students sign the It’s On Us pledge, which attracted national attention and a visit from Vice President Joe Biden in April. Hill said he was notified of his appointment to the national committee last week. He hopes to collaborate with his new committee members and provide feedback to further the campaign
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Hochman, student senate vice president-internal, and Mitch Dickey, student body president, organized the launch of the White House’s It’s on Us campaign at the University last fall. It’s On Us places an emphasis on community responsibility for sexual assault. Hill helped organize several public service announcements about the campaign with University faculty members and athletes as well as various events such as a “Twitter town hall”, where students could submit questions or comments and be addressed by First Year Campus Acquaintance Rape
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Matt Hill, Illinois Student Senate vice president-external, will serve on a national student-run It’s On Us advisory committee, according to a press release from Generation Progress and the Center for American Progress. The 17 students, who will be on the student advisory committee, were announced Tuesday. The committee is comprised of a group of student leaders who will play an active role of getting new students involved and help shape the national and local strategy of the campaign, according to the press release. Hill, along with Sarah
TGQN = Transgender, genderqueer or non conforming, questioning or not listed
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DAILY ILLINI STAFF REPORT
Undergraduate Graduate or Professional
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UI student named to national ‘It’s On Us’ advisory committee
ate students reported they are survivors of sexual assault, according to a survey conducted by the Association of American Universities. The survey defi ned sexual assault in two categories. “One type focused on non-consensual sexual contact involving two behaviors: sexual penetration and sexual touching or kissing. Those two behaviors are what typically
Percent of students reporting nonconsensual sexual contact
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DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO
Vice President Joe Biden alongside Matt Hill, Illinois Student Senate vice president-external, puts on an “It’s On Us” shirt at Campus Recreation Center East in Spring 2015.
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As universities across the nation attempt to address the problem of sexual assault on college campuses, one University student is attempting to make sexual assault resources and services more gender inclusive. A lexa ndria Nelson, intern at the Women’s Resource Center and graduate student in social work, has been involved with the First Year Campus Acquaintance Rape Education program all five years she has attended the University. Nelson played a role in changing the script of sexual assault classes to remove gendered pronouns, and according to Molly McLay, assistant director of the WRC, was “instrumental in helping UIUC programs to become more inclusive and safe for LGBTQ students.” “We took gender out of the script. We only use gender inclusive pronouns, so — ‘they,’ ‘them’ and ‘theirs’. We never assume survivors uses ‘she’ or ‘her’ pronouns
or (are) a woman, and we never assume that the perpetrator use ‘he,’ ‘him’ ‘his,’” Nelson said. “We make it very, very clear that sexual assault can happen to anyone regardless of gender and can be perpetrated by anyone, regardless of gender.” The changes to the University workshops, implemented in 2013, come at a time when one in four transgender undergradu-
% Victimized
Changes come in light of trans student sexual assault survey
SOURCE: Association of American Universities NATALIE GACEK THE DAILY ILLINI
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