Dear friends: With a heavy heart - one full of amazement and outrage, really - I write to let you know that the faculty at UIUC have received two letters - one from Chancellor Wise, upholding her decision not to honor Professor Salaita's proffered contract. The second letter from the Board of Trustees supports her decision and manages to sound Orwellian in the process: "In her statement, Chancellor Wise reaffirmed her commitment to academic freedom and to fostering an environment that encourages diverging opinions, robust debate and challenging conventional norms .... Our campuses must be safe harbors where students and faculty from all backgrounds and cultures feel valued, respected and comfortable expressing their views." It wasn't a surprise to anyone that their language about "civility" and "safe environments" directly echo Cary Nelson and ADL Zionist talk. Once again we learn that "power is never relinquished easily or out of justice." But you can be sure of one thing; this is not the end of the matter. Many people like you, including faculty and students at UIUC and elsewhere, are mobilizing to continue this fight. I will post updates on events as they unfold on my Facebook wall [https://www.facebook.com/rima.najjar.merriman], but it will probably be hard for you to avoid hearing about the matter on the Internet, as what rests at the center of this event, the irrelevance of political commentary to a faculty hire, is still smack at the center - not to mention various other issues of social justice that so many advocates have already pointed out forcefully and with great eloquence. A blog by Ali Abunimah dated today has copies of both letters. It is titled 'Univ. of Illinois admits pre-emptive firing of Israel critic Steven Salaita' and includes the following comment: "transparent use of “civility” as a cover to fire a professor with outspoken views on Israel is almost identical to the pretext that was given by DePaul University in 2007 to deny tenure to Norman Finkelstein." http://electronicintifada.net/blogs/ali-abunimah/univ-illinois-admits-pre-emptive-firing-israel-critic-steven-salaita So we haven't heard the end of this matter by a long shot. I'd like to take this sad opportunity to thank you, one and all, for your support. This petition has now reached 15,380 signatories. You are an inspiration and affirmation that there is hope in this world - for free speech, for due process, and even for Palestine. You have been a comfort to Professor Steven Salaita and his family, I am sure, as well as a shining light in this dark world. - Rima Najjar Merriman