Letters to the Editors

USF should have better reasons for firing Al-Arian

It is with the most profound sense of sorrow and frustration that I oppose the University of South Florida's grounds for firing Sami Al-Arian. His "death to Israel" speeches are as vile as they come; nonetheless, they are words that are protected by the First Amendment and by universally recognized standards of academic freedom. Our Constitution does not protect just the words that the majority of the citizens can support, but it protects also the kind of words that most of us find contemptible and hateful.

Yes, this standard applies to neo-Nazi anti-Semitism, to the racial venom of the Ku Klux Klan, and to all speech and writing that are beyond the pale of human decency. Only by protecting obnoxious speech can we protect all speech. Let me state very clearly that I oppose everything that Al-Arian, the Nazis and the KKK stand for. I do not support them, but only the same civil rights for them that everyone in America has, and should have.

On the other hand, one must wonder why the university could not find legitimate, honorable and noncontroversial grounds for sending this despicable professor packing. Sen. Bob Graham is asking for the information contained in the FBI files on Al-Arian, information that could reveal possible ties to terrorists and terror groups. Professors have every right to speak their minds, but aiding, abetting or cooperating with terrorist groups is quite another story. USF officials did the right thing in moving to fire Al-Arian, but they did it for the wrong reason. I am concerned that when this hatemonger wins his academic freedom case, his cause will be glorified, and the university will have given itself a black eye.
-- Norman Orenstein, Clearwater

Sowing hatred for Israel

Academic freedom and freedom of speech have no connection with the case of Sami Al-Arian. A university should be devoted to seeking the truth. Al-Arian's talks did nothing but promote hatred and lies. I know because I attended many of those talks. There was never any attempt to provide time for a discussion of the truth or falsity of many of the assertions made. In a true university, time would be provided for a second speaker to correct the lies and hatred spit out by Al-Arian's speakers. This was never done.

Al-Arian has absolutely no concept of debate in searching for the truth, and his main interest is in sowing hatred for the state of Israel and the Jewish people. This is not academic freedom, but the freedom to spread lies and hatred. Didn't we learn from Germany where such freedom leads?
-- A.W. Goodman, distinguished professor of mathematics (retired), University of South Florida, Tampa

Students are right to back Al-Arian firing

As a student leader at the University of South Florida, I am exceptionally pleased by the passage of Student Government Resolution No. 8, which underscores the fact that the student body agrees with the contention by the university board of trustees and president Judy Genshaft that professor Sami Al-Arian has indeed violated the provisions of his collective bargaining agreement, which his union validated. As a co-author and co-sponsor of this resolution, I spent a tremendous amount of time gathering the opinion of the student body whose constituency I represent before making the decision to not simply support the university's administration, but to stress their viewpoint in the strongest possible manner.

Personally, I find ludicrous the contention by Dr. Al-Arian, his attorneys and the faculty union that academic freedom has been violated in this case. Dr. Al-Arian was not an instructor in philosophy, or religion, or foreign language, or even history, but a professor of computer science. Dr. Al-Arian's supporters have alternately suggested that since it is the duty of university professors to participate within the community, his comments are justified, and protected by the principle of academic freedom.

However, academic freedom is not a license to spread hate. If Dr. Al-Arian were teaching a course whereby this topic was relevant, and he was providing the viewpoint for comparison to other situations in the region, there would be no issue. Computer science has nothing whatsoever to do with anti-Semitism. "Death to Israel" has nothing to do with the academic responsibility for which Dr. Al-Arian was employed by USF. Academic freedom cannot be used as a shield for racism.

Dr. Al-Arian's anti-Semitic views equate to racism. Those racist views do not fall under the scope of academic freedom when they exhort others to incite violence. This defense is a mockery of the educational principles set down decades ago to protect teachers in the classroom.
-- Michael Berman, Temple Terrace

Student Senate action disappointing

Re: USF student leaders support decision to dismiss Al-Arian, Jan. 16.

I would like to congratulate the 14 USF student senators abstaining from the vote held on the Sami Al-Arian decision because they felt the group did not poll all 31,000 students on the campus. Similar to the administration's initial decision to terminate Al-Arian, the Student Senate's action is not reflective of the actual campuswide opinion of this situation, nor do I feel that outside student opinion was even taken into consideration.

This decision makes the student body look like a bunch of intolerant rednecks. Al-Arian compromises USF's safety just as much as the religious zealots who preach in front of Cooper Hall, only we don't ban the zealots from campus.

In conclusion, I am extremely disappointed in the Student Senate's resolution to support the administration on this decision.

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

Try "Administrative Puppet," "Intolerance U." and "Unjustified Severance of First Amendment Rights."
-- Maureen Knapp, graduate student, University of South Florida, Tampa

Governor should get involved

Re: USF student leaders support decision to dismiss Al-Arian.

Your article indicates the students of the University of South Florida have more sense than the faculty regarding Sami Al-Arian. I was glad to see that they support president Judy Genshaft in her decision to oust this man.

As a taxpaying Floridian, I would expect our governor to support her by taking action based on information related to Al-Arian's possible participation in support of terrorism. This kind of action by Gov. Jeb Bush would be in line with the current emphasis on national security, which would justify action by the federal government. Firm action must be taken to get people like this out of the country. For 16 years, this man, who is not an American citizen, has been an employee of the state of Florida, well paid and in a position that would allow him to influence our youth.

Gov. Bush, get involved! Do not let Judy Genshaft fight this battle alone. Take action! Get him off the state payroll and save some taxpayer money.
-- M. Mayo, St. Petersburg

Belief in free speech seems limited

Re: USF's firestorm, Jan. 18.

I was surprised to read in this editorial that Sami Al-Arian created a "supposed think tank . . . as a vehicle for furthering an extremist Islamic agenda."

I have read in numerous sources that this think tank (World and Islam Studies Enterprise or WISE) was thoroughly investigated and found to be an actual think tank, and a highly acclaimed one at that, which provided a platform for differing viewpoints. If the Times has evidence to the contrary, I would like to see that evidence rather than unsupported inflammatory remarks by your editors.

It seems the Times is joining the ranks of those who believe that freedom of speech is what makes America great, but only if the speech agrees with majority opinion.
-- Melva Underbakke, Temple Terrace

We should not put up with Al-Arian

As a USF alumnus, I agree with all of the letter writers who are calling for the deportation of professor Sami Al-Arian and who support his firing. Paradoxically, the only reason he can even make efforts to fight USF's decision is that he is in a country where dissent is tolerated. Let him go back to the Middle East if the United States is so horrible for supporting a stalwart ally such as Israel. Yasser Arafat has just as notorious a reputation for killing Arab purveyors of dissent as he does for killing Jews.

I realize how blessed this country is to have in Israel a friend with one face rather than two or more. Israel's only misfortune is that it has no oil. Oil and our gluttonous love for it are the only reasons we put up with people such as Al-Arian, whose ideas are repugnant to most Americans.
-- Kelly King-Helenihi, Palm Harbor

Remember Al-Arian's agenda

Re: USF hasn't learned from its past, Jan. 21.

Times associate editor Martin Dyckman's column chastising the University of South Florida and its president for the dismissal of a tenured professor requires a rebuttal. We concede that Dyckman's column is well-documented with historical errors made by USF. On the other hand, these errors are not applicable in this unique case.

Overlooked is the unique agenda of Sami Al-Arian. He arrived in this country intending to promote his cause. To do this, he has manipulated our system. Dyckman overlooks his role. He is like Mullah Mohammed Omar. He has made it possible for terrorist leaders to come to the United States disguised as Islamic scholars. Ramadan Abdullah Shallah, the head of Islamic Jihad today, was just one. Al-Arian is not guilty by association with terrorists; he is guilty in association with terrorists. Just as Mullah Omar was the host for Osama bin Laden, Al-Arian was the host for Shallah, Hasan Turabi, et al. at USF.

It is obvious that any continued presence of Al-Arian on campus will be a major distraction to learning. Students in support of his dismissal understand this.

As a former teachers' union president, I fought for many tenure victims. The removal of Al-Arian is, however, a case that surmounts the issue. It has to do with the ability to have a normal campus. Above all, it is related to our war on terrorism. The USF faculty support of Al-Arian weakens justifiable support of tenure. Indeed, it hardens citizen opposition to tenure. USF trustees and president Judy Genshaft have demonstrated that they understand the issue. Al-Arian must go!
-- Norman N. Gross, president, Promoting Responsibility in Middle East Reporting; chairperson, Anti-Hate Committee, B'nai B'rith of Greater Florida, Palm Harbor

Murderously hateful speech

Re: USF hasn't learned from its past.

It pains me to disagree with Martin Dyckman, who writes prolifically, with great intelligence and wisdom, about all manner of issues that affect Floridians. But his espousal of reinstatement for Sami Al-Arian is plain wrong.

The voices of 6-million Jews murdered in the Holocaust cry out for remembrance and justice, not First Amendment protection of murderously hateful anti-Semitic speech. "Death to Israel" is no abstract political metaphor; it is terrorist-speak of precisely the kind that led to the Inquisition, the persecution of Jews in Russia and "the final solution to the Jewish question" in Germany.

President Judy Genshaft was right to fire Al-Arian. Let him return to Egypt, where his call for the death of Israel will cause no First Amendment debate.
-- Joseph H. Francis, St. Petersburg

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