Marathon Pundit: Revised: Chomsky coming to Chicago for academic freedom lecture

Look what just popped into my e-mail box at 1:00am. Hey, I'm all for academic freedom, particularly at DePaul University, a frequent topic here, but aren't the organizers of the October academic freedom conference forgetting something?

Here's a hint:

Sept 15 (2006): Second anniversary of the beginning of the Thomas Klocek affair

Below is a press release from the DePaul Academic Freedom Committee:

UPDATE 8:29AM: The confreren will be held at the University of Chicago, but is sponsored by the DePaul University Academic Freedom Committee. I've got to watch those late nite posts!

**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
27 August 2007
Media Contact: Daniel Klimek
Email: dpk24g@gmail.com

"In Defense of Academic Freedom" – DePaul Students and Community Launch Website and Organize Lecture to Highlight Violations

October 12 2007 lecture featuring: Tariq Ali, Akeel Bilgrami, Noam Chomsky, Tony Judt and John Mearsheimer

12 October 2007 - 2:00pm - 7:00 pm
Rockefeller Chapel, University of Chicago

CHICAGO, IL -- DePaul University students, concerned over the controversial tenure denials of Dr. Norman Finkelstein and Dr. Mehrene Larudee by its administration, have launched a website (http://www.academicfreedomchicago.org) and have organized a conference to highlight the threat to academic freedom in universities. Since the tenure denials, prominent scholars across the country have begun speaking out.

On October 12, 2007, the DePaul University Academic Freedom Committee, International Studies Program and Department of Philosophy, Diskord Journal (University of Chicago) and Verso Books will host a panel lecture featuring:
• Dr. Akeel Bilgrami, Johnsonian Professor of Philosophy and Director of The Heyman Center, Columbia University
• Dr. Noam Chomsky, Institute Professor & Professor of Linguistics (Emeritus), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Dr. Tony Judt, University Professor and Director of the Remarque Institute, New York University
• Dr. John Mearsheimer, R. Wendell Harrison Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, University of Chicago
• Dr. Neve Gordon, Professor, Department of Politics and Government, Ben-Gurion University

Hosted by:
• Tariq Ali, Editor of the New Left Review and Verso Books

DePaul students have been protesting for academic freedom since June 2007, when tenure was denied to Professors Finkelstein and Larudee. After a meeting between 30 student leaders and DePaul President Dennis Holtschneider, the students hosted a sit-in in the executive offices of the president. The students were evicted, after several days, under the threat of expulsion. Students furthermore organized a visible protest at DePaul’s graduation ceremonies, where countless graduates also refused to shake Fr. Holtshneider’s hand, and recently numerous students publicly fasted for one-and-half weeks to express their seriousness and self-control regarding these vital issues and academic injustices.