Dear Chancellor Weiss, I am sorry I missed writing to you yesterday and this morning, as I have been traveling. I just checked the petition and the number of signatories is approaching 15,000 – all waiting to hear from you. As you probably already know, another petition organized by USACBI already has 1077 signatures and is rapidly gaining support. The document says, in part: “... It is resolved that we endorse and honor a boycott of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It is also resolved that we support the protected rights of students and scholars everywhere to engage in research and public speaking about Israel-Palestine free from threats and intimidation; We, the undersigned faculty and staff, will not give guest lectures or provide public speeches at The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. We encourage all signatories of this statement to use their own judgment as to what other forms of protest and boycott they wish to employ on a case-by-case basis. We ask that faculty and administrators honor the boycott until Professor Steven Salaita is made a formal and binding offer of employment with tenure, exactly the same offer that has been revoked. We furthermore demand that the University vow that no retaliation or other negative actions, explicit or implicit, direct or indirect, be visited upon Professor Salaita or any of his supporters amongst the faculty or student body at UIUC.” https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_oGbCNTx7lcvYzQP_kDEZbfclDdu5-GU_HIfCUKfIGQ/viewform Given the above and the sentiments expressed by John Kaderbek below on the petition on Change.org - sentiments shared by thousands of people around the world, I hope very much that you will honor the contract to hire Professor Steven Salaita. Please do the right thing. John Kaderbek CHICAGO, IL about 1 hour ago Bottom of Form Your actions reflect negatively on me as an Illinois citizen. Please consider that the next time you punish someone for their protected speech. On the other hand, at least I can now be proud to have never attended your ethically bankrupt institution.