University of Illinois Settles Its Case with Steven Salaita

We have reported on this case numerous times, and the ordeal is finally over.  Here is our overview of the dispute from last year:

The very short version of the story, as best I can cobble it together from blog posts, is that the University of Illinois offered a position in its American Indian Studies program to Steven Salaita, who had previously been teaching at Virginia Tech.  According to this article in the Chicago Tribune, the U of I sent Professor Salaita an offer letter, which he signed and returned in October 2013.  Professor Salaita was informed that his appointment was subject to approval by the U of I’s Board of Trustees, but everyone understood that to be pro forma.  In August 2014, Salaita the U of I Chancellor notified Professor Salaita that his appointment would not be presented to the Board and that he was no longer a candidate for a position.  According to the Tribune, the Board next meets in September, after Professor Salaita’s employment would have begun.  The Chancellor apparently decided not to present Professor Salaita’s contract for approval because of his extensive tweets on the Isreali-Palestinian conflict, which may or may not be anti-Semitic, depending on how one reads them.  

As reported here in Inside Higher Ed, the University of Illinois has agreed to pay Steven Salaita $875,000.  The University has now severed all ties with Professor Salaita who will not teach there.