Princeton Today: Salaita Tenure Case

Salaita
Salaita

Princeton University will host a panel discussion today about the firing of academic Steven Salaita.  “The Salaita Case and Beyond” will explore the recent decision by the administration of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to revoke the offer of a tenured position to Salaita.

Previously an associate professor in the English Department at Virginia Tech, Salaita was initially offered a position with the American Indian Studies program at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but Chancellor Phyllis Wise blocked his appointment after he posted tweets criticizing Israel’s role in the latest conflict in Gaza.  The firing has sparked debate about free speech and academic freedom at colleges and universities across the country.

Salaita will be in Chicago speaking at area campuses this week. Last week he wrote an opinion piece in the Chicago Tribune called “U. of I. Destroyed My Career.”

Panelists this afternoon include Princeton faculty members Eddie Glaude Jr., the William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African American Studies, and Anthony Grafton, the Henry Putnam University Professor of History; Joseph Massad of Columbia University; and Joan Scott of the Institute for Advanced Study.

The panel will take place at 6 p.m. in the Betts Auditorium at the School for Architecture at Princeton University. The event is open to the public. Editor’s Note: The time and location were updated this morning.

EVENTS

Digital and Statistical Approaches to Musicology – Michael Scott Cuthbert, associate professor of music at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will speak on “Fox and Hedgehog Musicology: Digital and Statistical Approaches to Old Problems” at 4:30 p.m. in the Woolworth Building, Room 102, at Princeton University.

Paul Krugman Discusses Europe and the 2008 Economic Collapse – Paul Krugman, professor of economics and international affairs, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, and a columnist for The New York Times, will give the Walter E. Edge Lecture “Learning from Europe” at 6 p.m. in McCosh Hall, Room 50. His talk will examine how the United States and Europe chose differing responses to the 2008 economic collapse and what we can learn from Europe’s experience.

Conversation on Race – Members of Not In Our Town, the Princeton-based interracial and interfaith social action group, facilitate discussion of race-related issues of relevance to our community and nation.  7 p.m. Princeton Public Library, Princeton Room. Free. Co-sponsored by the library and Not in Our Town Princeton.

PAWS Wrestling Registration Open – Registration is underway for the PAWS youth wrestling program, which runs from early November through late February. PAWS is open to boys and girls in grades 3 – 8. PAWS practices are held on Tuesday & Thursday evenings from 7-8:30 pm at Jadwin Gymnasium on the campus of Princeton University. Beginners welcome Registration also underway for the Tiger Cubs program, which introduces the basic fundamentals of wrestling to boys & girls in grades K – 2. Participants are taught the importance of stretching, conditioning, physical fitness and the ability to follow instructions. The program meets on Saturday mornings at Jadwin Gymnasium. Visit the Princeton Recreation Department registration site to sign up.

Dillon Youth Basketball League Registration Open – The Princeton Recreation Department is now accepting registrations for the Dillon Youth Basketball League. The registration deadline is Nov. 15. Teams fill up on a first-come, first serve basis. This year marks the 44th season of the league. The season runs from mid-December thru mid-March and games are played on Saturday mornings at Dillon Gym on the campus of Princeton University. In addition, each team will have one 45-minute practice per week at one of the public schools in Princeton. The league is open to boys and girls in grades 4 – 9 who are Princeton residents or that attend school in Princeton. Visit the Princeton Recreation Department registration site to sign up. For more information, log onto www.princetonrecreation.com or call the Recreation Department at 609-921-9480.

WEATHER

Mostly sunny with a high of 71 degrees.

COMMUTE

Princeton – Bank Street will be closed at Nassau Street Oct. 6 through Oct. 11, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, due to construction. Residents and employees enter Bank St. via Chambers St. during the closure.

Milling and paving on Paul Robeson Place will take place Oct. 9-11 from 8 a.m. to about 4 p.m.Traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel during the milling, and closed all together during the paving processes. Parking will be prohibited on Paul Robeson Place throughout the operation. Expect delays. Plan an alternate route.

Hopewell -Road work continues along Blackwell Road into the intersection of Pennington Lawrenceville Road (Route 546) between 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Motorists should expect minor delays when traveling through this area.

Lawrence – Pennington-Lawrenceville Road (County Route 546) from Federal City Road to U.S. Route 206 resurfacing work continues. One lane open in each direction.

Route 206 between the Fackler Road Extension and Province Line Road is being reconstructed as part of a water main project. The work is being done mostly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Bakers Basin Road is slated to re-open today.

South Brunswick – Avoid Haypress Road until 4 p.m. due to paving. Follow posted detours.

IN THE NEWS

Repairs to Tunnels Damaged by Sandy Could Snarl Trains

Princeton University Graduate Housing Delayed

Tickets on Sale for 13th Annual Princeton House Tour

 

Avatar of Krystal Knapp

Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.