Finkelstein Update: No Office Space, Classes Cancelled, Hunger Strike Planned

DePaul hits a new low: they have just canceled all of Finkelstein's classes for his terminal year. Plus, he has been denied all office space. Details here and here. And check this out:
How DePaul practices Vincentian values

Prof. Finkelstein - Professor Budde has informed me that you have asked for office space for your books. We do not have office space assigned to you for the coming academic year. I will look into whether we can make space available for you and either I or Professor Budde will get in touch with you next week with more information.

In the meantime, you will not have access to your old office space. To the extent that you left personal belongings in your old office space, we can discuss a plan for their return to you when I get in touch with you next week. You should not plan on moving into any office space tomorrow, as that option is not available to you.

I will contact you next week with more information.

Dr. Charles (Chuck) Suchar
Professor and Dean
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
DePaul University
Vincent dePaul Professor
Office of the Dean
990 W. Fullerton Ave. Office#4207
Chicago, IL. 60614-3298
Phones: (773) 325-7305
(773) 325-1858
fax: (773) 325-7304
e-mail: csuchar@depaul.edu

You might want to contact Dean Suchar and tell him what you think.

Finkelstein has announced the following:
"I intend to go to my office on the first day of classes and, if my way is barred, to engage in civil disobedience," Finkelstein, 53, said in a telephone interview. "If arrested, I'll go on a hunger strike. If released, I'll do it all over again. I'll fast in jail for as long as it takes."
There is a conference on October 12th at the University of Chicago on this case, and on academic freedom in general. You can make donations here. I hope there will be a live internet hookup, or at least a video posted after the fact.

For all of you who despise Finkelstein and/or his writings -- and I don't, obviously -- let me remind you, who are no doubt a self-described civil libertarian (like Alan Dershowitz), of the following:

"I disapprove of what you write, but I would give my life to make it possible for you to continue to write." -- Voltaire

Most people, despite what they profess, are not up to Voltaire's standard.