Latest: Professor Finkelstein resigns, honour intact.

DePaul, embattled professor settle dispute as Finkelstein resigns,
university calls him 'an outstanding teacher'

By Ron Grossman

The long-running confrontation between embattled
professor Norman Finkelstein and DePaul University
ended today without the dramatics he had promised.

Embattled professor Norman Finkelstein meets with
students and supporters Wednesday on the quad at
DePaul University to announce his resignation.
(Tribune photo by Chuck Berman / September 5, 2007)

Instead, he read a statement announcing his
resignation this morning on the university's main
quadrangle before about 120 supporters announcing that
he and DePaul had resolved the controversy. But the
terms were kept confidential.

Finkelstein had vowed to present himself at his office
door today and, if denied entrance, to perform an
unspecified act of civil disobedience. He vowed to go
on a hunger strike if he were jailed.

Finkelstein, a scholar praised and damned for his
strong criticisms of Israel, was denied tenure in
June. However, his classes remained in the
university's course schedule until abruptly canceled a
little more than a week before fall term classes began
on the school's Lincoln Park campus.

At that point, Finkelstein also was notified that he
had been put on administrative leave for the 2007-08
school year. By long-standing academic tradition, a
professor denied tenure is entitled to one last year
in the classroom of his home university.

In July, Finkelstein's own department of political
science had recommended that the 53-year-old professor
be put on "non-residential" leave. This was the
outcome of allegations that Finkelstein had physically
and verbally confronted university officials after his
tenure denial.

Finkelstein read both his statement and DePaul's
today. No university official appeared.

In its statement, the university wrote: "Professor
Finkelstein is a prolific scholar and an outstanding
teacher."

Generally, the standard for achieving tenure,
academe's equivalent of a life-time job, is
scholarship, teaching and service to the institution.

The American Association of University Professors had
previously complained to the university that
Finkelstein's summary discharge violated standards of
academic freedom.

Although the settlement terms were not disclosed,
Finkelstein reiterated his previous determination "to
leave with my head unbowed, my reputation intact."

A colorful demonstration for Finkelstein on campus
this morning included representatives of the National
Lawyers Guild, the Socialist Workers Party, the
Revolutionary Communist League and Jewish Voice for
Peace.

Finkelstein has been noted for his support of the
Palestinian cause.

.

__,_._,___