Students support Al-Arian dismissal

The USF Student Senate votes 22-0 to endorse a decision to fire the controversial professor.

By SUSAN THURSTON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 16, 2002

TAMPA -- Student leaders on Tuesday endorsed the University of South Florida's decision to dismiss professor Sami Al-Arian, citing safety concerns and damage to the school's reputation.

They said they want people to stop calling their school "Terrorism University," "Jihad U." and the "University of Suicidal Fanatics."

"What does this say about our school?" said student Kaylin Grey, who is applying for law school. "When I graduate, I want my degree to mean something."

In its first meeting this semester, the Student Senate voted 22-0 to back USF president Judy Genshaft's move to terminate the tenured computer science professor. Fourteen members abstained, largely because the group did not poll all 31,000 students on the campus.

"This isn't a question of academic freedom. . . . There is a line that has been crossed," said junior Joena Bartolini. "I should not have to come to school if I don't feel safe."

The vote has no direct bearing on the outcome of Al-Arian's case, but it sends a strong message to university officials and faculty. It comes less than a week after a union representing USF professors decided to support Al-Arian and his efforts to keep his job.

During the nearly three-hour debate, a small minority of students in the audience urged their representatives to stand by Al-Arian and his right to free speech.

"Dr. Al-Arian has not broken any laws. He has not done anything wrong," said Bisher Tarabishy, a member of the Muslim Student Association. "I don't see what the safety issue is. It's Dr. Al-Arian's safety that's at risk. He's not making the death threats."

Genshaft told the students that keeping Al-Arian would create a hazard for the campus. She asked them whether any had received phone calls from relatives worried about terrorism at the school, and most raised their hands.

"There have been more death threats in this last semester than any semester in this institution's history," she said. "I will not wait for anyone to be harmed or killed before I will take action."

Genshaft, at the urging of university trustees, decided in December to dismiss the Palestinian-born computer engineer, whom federal authorities have investigated for alleged links to terrorists. In his 16 years with the public school, he has been on paid leave for about 21/2 years, at a cost of more than $125,000 to taxpayers, she said.

Al-Arian was banned from campus in September after being questioned on a cable talk show about his alleged ties to terrorists. His remarks elicited angry phone calls to USF and many death threats.

School officials say Al-Arian violated his employment contract by not stipulating that his remarks reflected personal views and not those of USF. They say his dismissal has nothing to do with academic freedom and free speech.

Al-Arian on Monday urged trustees to let him plead his case in person. A response is expected soon.

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