Former DePaul professor Norman Finkelstein returned to DePaul, Monday, for the first time since his 2007 tenure dispute.Finkelstein began his speech by announcing that he would not be speaking about “academic freedoms”, as was widely publicized on campus. Rather, the speech became a personal statement of innocence and an announcement that he has not “moved on” from the injustice he claims to have experienced.
“I am not forgiving what is happening and I will not forget,"Finkelstein said.
In the brief lecture, the former professor highlighted the events of his tenure dispute. He referred to the situation as a “filthy frame-up” and a “plot” to destroy his professional career. He also acknowledged each individual he deemed guilty using job titles - but not names - and followed each with the words, “No Norm, don’t go there, I wont say more.”
The highly public 2007 dispute resulted in a private settlement, a condition of which was Finkelstein’s resignation. The professor noted that nothing he discussed would be related to the terms of his settlement. He went on to call for “justice”, requesting a public apology and a reversal of the 2007 decision. The speech lasted less than fifteen minutes and took time to thank his supporters, as well as his former students.
“It is a credit – not just for DePaul – but to any place, what the students did for me,” Finkelstein concluded.
The speech was preceded by a lecture from the professor on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, lasting over two hours. Both lectures began with a statement from the university regarding audience behavior.
In closing, Finkelstein offered those involved in his tenure denial a chance to reply to his claims. None seemed to be in attendance.