Computer Science Professor Sami Al-Arian no longer faces termination for his alleged "disruption" of university activities, which FIRE protested through a letter from Alan Charles Kors to University of South Florida (USF) President Judy Genshaft. In the letter, Kors denounced USF's termination of Professor Al-Arian due to FIRE's belief that his firing was an example of a "heckler's veto," which the letter deemed to be the public outcry against Professor Al-Arian shortly after FoxNews television host Bill O'Reilly's implication that Professor Al-Arian was sympathetic to terrorists. While Professor Al-Arian is still terminated, USF changed the justification of his firing in August 2002 after alleging that Professor Al-Arian engaged in a pattern of sanctionable and criminal activity by aiding terrorists and financing their activities.
Case Materials
"FIRE and Constitutional Rights at the University of South Florida," FIRE Press Release, February 25, 2003: FIRE continues to make available on this website all of its prior communications about the Sami Al-Arian case. FIRE's statements on freedom of speech and academic freedom at the University of South Florida were and remain constitutionally and morally correct. In light of the recent indictment of Al-Arian on charges of terrorism, FIRE issues the following statement.
"University of South Florida Makes a U-Turn: FIRE and the Case of Sami Al-Arian," FIRE Press Release, August 30, 2002: Vindicating FIRE's position, the University of South Florida (USF) has abandoned its claim that negative reactions to Professor Sami Al-Arian's otherwise protected speech constituted appropriate grounds to fire him. USF now has set forth charges of sanctionable and criminal behavior against the tenured professor of computer science, against which he now must have the opportunity to defend himself in an appropriate and impartial forum. USF now bears a substantial burden of proving the serious charges it has lodged against its faculty member.
"The University of South Florida Betrays the Rule of Law: The "Thug's Veto" and the Ongoing Case of Sami Al-Arian," FIRE Press Release, January 29, 2002: The University of South Florida (USF) has decided to fire a tenured professor on the grounds that outside criticism of his views had created too much of a "disruption" to uphold his constitutional and moral rights of free speech and lawful political activity. Dr. Sami Al-Arian, an outspoken pro-Palestinian activist, was a guest on a cable news show where he was accused of having radical views, of having made radical statements in the past, and of having possible ties to terrorist groups. As a result of the television appearance, USF came under what it has described as intense public pressure. The University, in response, issued a notice of termination, choosing to dismiss Dr. Al-Arian, because it was too bothersome to defend his constitutional rights.
"Sami Al-Arian: Victim of Intolerance or Threat to a University's Stability?," Sharon Walsh, Colloquy Live (Chronicle of Higher Education), February 6, 2002: Since September 11, there have been numerous incidents in which faculty members have been criticized for their comments about terrorism, U.S. foreign policy, and the Middle East. But only one tenured professor -- Sami Al-Arian of the University of South Florida -- faces the prospect of losing his job for his public comments. Mr. Al-Arian has been the source of controversy at the university for several years, with his critics saying that his comments about Israel promote hate and his defenders saying that he is a caring professor whose comments -- however controversial -- must be defended as part of free speech and academic freedom. After some statements that Mr. Al-Arian made in 1991 were discussed, post-September 11, on a national television show, the university was bombarded with criticism, threats to revoke donations, and some death threats for Mr. Al-Arian. The university's Board of Trustees has authorized his dismissal -- and the university's president, while not making a final decision, has said his dismissal would be appropriate -- because of the disruptions Mr. Al-Arian's statements have caused at the university. Many faculty groups say that the move against Mr. Al-Arian is a serious violation of free speech and academic freedom.
"Some really offensive ideas on campus," Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, February 3, 2002: A university is a place of open inquiry, vigorous intellectual debate and untrammeled scholarly freedom. But during a national crisis, even universities sometimes take the position that if you can't say the right thing, you should put a sock in it.
