(AP/Yahoo) - University of South Florida officials accused tenured Palestinian computer science professor Sami Al-Arian of having terrorist ties and filed a lawsuit Wednesday asking a court to determine whether firing him would violate his free speech rights. "The reality is, this guy's been associated with terrorists for the last 15 years," said Dick Beard, chairman of the USF trustees. "The university has been called Jihad U. It's time we take action and effectively cut this cancer out." While USF President Judy Genshaft recommended in December that Al-Arian be fired, citing disruption and breach of contract, the university's 60-member faculty senate later voted overwhelmingly not to support Genshaft's decision. A committee of the American Association of University Professors released a statement supporting Al-Arian and urging Genshaft not to fire him or face possible censure.
2002-08-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive