uibot 5:01 AM (4 hours ago) Dear Professor Merriman: This is to acknowledge receipt of your email correspondence dated 8-17-14. It will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees. Sincerely, Susan Kies Secretary of the Board of Trustees and of the University From: Rima Najjar Merriman Date: Sunday, August 17, 2014 at 2:30 PM To: uibot Cc: Phyllis Wise , "Warrior, Robert" , "ais@illinois.edu" Subject: As you are the decision makers in this matter [Please read or at least scan before the Board meeting tomorrow] Dear UIUC Board of Trustees: I understand you will be meeting tomorrow to discuss the travesty related to Professor Steven Salaita's peremptory firing from UIUC. I am the organizer of an online petition addressed to Chancellor Phyllis Wise and Professor Robert Warrior, which has so far garnered 15,066 signatures since I posted it on August 7th. Professor Warrior responded to the petition early on: "I remain committed to Steven's appointment and to the principles of academic freedom more and more at stake here at Illinois and in the academic world more broadly." We have yet to hear from Chancellor Wise. As you are the decision makers in this matter, I am writing to share with you the letters and updates re: the petition that I have been steadily e-mailing Chancellor Wise and copying Professor Warrior and AIS. It is my hope you would take a little time before the meeting to glance at the comments I shared with the chancellor, all of which are written by the signatories. They will give you a sense of how deeply and widely Professor Salaita's case has resonated with thousands of people in Illinois and worldwide who strongly disagree with the decision to revoke the contract UI offered Professor Salaita on the basis of his pro-Palestine political views. Following, please find the letters/updates I have shared with the chancellor, beginning with the most recent (this morning). Sincerely, -- Petition on Change.org: https://www.change.org/petitions/phyllis-m-wise-we-demand-corrective-action-on-the-scandalous-firing-of-palestinian-american-professor-dr-steven-salaita