Professor Steven Salaita has canceled his talk today at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
The American Indian studies scholar was to deliver a speech at the UIC student center, but he informed the organizers he had to postpone it, per advice from his lawyers.
Salaita’s other public appearances are still on. He visited Northwestern University on Monday and will speak tonight at the University of Chicago. Other events are scheduled at Loyola University, Columbia College and DePaul University.
Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Gay Liberation Network in Chicago, which has been organizing the events, posted the news and Salaita’s announcement on Facebook.
“I deeply regret that, on advice of counsel, it may be most prudent to postpone my on-campus talk,” Salaita wrote. “This is to say nothing about how much I would like to convene with you and how much I am buoyed by your friendship and solidarity. I hope this period will soon pass and that I can give a talk (there) in the not-too-distant future.”
Salaita and his lawyers have indicated that they will take legal action against the University of Illinois soon.
A university search committee offered Salaita a tenure-track faculty job back in October 2013. He accepted and planned to teach this fall. After his tweets critical of Israel’s invasion of Gaza received scrutiny, Chancellor Phyllis Wise notified him in August that she would not forward his appointment to the board for approval. Trustees rejected the appointment last month.
After taking a break from tweeting and speaking publicly, Salaita in recent weeks has been returning to social media, thanking supporters online and launching a speaking tour. Organizers have asked groups and departments to pay Salaita an honorarium and will also be asking for donations at the events.