[Peace-discuss] Fwd: [New post] Follow the Money at the University of Illinois

Mon Aug 25 15:09:15 EDT 2014

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> From: Corey Robin <comment-reply at wordpress.com>
> Date: August 25, 2014, 8:10:13 AM CDT
> To: <galliher at illinois.edu>
> Subject: [New post] Follow the Money at the University of Illinois
> Reply-To: Corey Robin <comment+r38qziukobtpgyccvtvcjfq at comment.wordpress.com>
> 
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> Respond to this post by replying above this line
> New post on Corey Robin
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> Follow the Money at the University of Illinois
> by Corey Robin
> Inside Higher Ed has gotten some of the preliminary documents on the back and forth between Chancellor Wise, officials at the University of Illinois (including a top person in charge of fundraising), and a high-level donor, before Wise made her initial decision to dehire Steven Salaita. There's still a lot we don't know about the external and internal pressure that went into this decision (though from my own experience with this issue I can only assume that that fear of external financial pressure was very very high), and as the article notes, none of these emails tells us what ultimately prompted Wise to make the decision she did. Still, it's telling that in the days leading up to her decision, she received 70 communiques (in one instance from a very high-level donor), regarding the Salaita hire, only one of which was urging her to keep him on board.
> 
> The communications show that Wise was lobbied on the decision not only by pro-Israel students, parents and alumni, but also by the fund-raising arm of the university.
> 
> ...
> 
> For instance, there is an email from Travis Smith, senior director of development for the University of Illinois Foundation, to Wise, with copies to Molly Tracy, who is in charge of fund-raising for engineering programs, and Dan C. Peterson, vice chancellor for institutional advancement. The email forwards a letter complaining about the Salaita hire. The email from Smith says: "Dan, Molly, and I have just discussed this and believe you need to [redacted]." (The blacked out portion suggests a phrase is missing, not just a word or two.)
> 
> Later emails show Wise and her development team trying to set up a time to discuss the matter, although there is no indication of what was decided.
> 
> At least one email the chancellor received was from someone who identified himself as a major donor who said that he would stop giving if Salaita were hired. "Having been a multiple 6 figure donor to Illinois over the years I know our support is ending as we vehemently disagree with the approach this individual espouses. This is doubly unfortunate for the school as we have been blessed in our careers and have accumulated quite a balance sheet over my 35 year career," the email says.
> 
> Corey Robin | August 25, 2014 at 9:09 am | Tags: Phyllis Wise, Steven Salaita, University of Illinois | Categories: Education, Middle East | URL: http://wp.me/p1FPJG-1Bv
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