January 9, 2002

Senate President Dr. Paveza
Madame President Dr. Genshaft
Mr. Provost Dr. Stamps
Senators
Colleagues
Students
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Afternoon

My attorney Bob McKee is in attendance willing to answer any questions by the senators. I hope that he will be recognized by the chair.

Mr. President:

My name is Sami Al-Arian. Im almost 44 years, of which Ive lived in the US for the last 27 years. Ive been married for over 22 years. My wife Nahla and I are proud of our 5 children. Abdullah is a senior at Duke University. Laila is a junior at Georgetown University. Leena is a senior in High school. Ali is in 6th grade, and Lama is in 3rd grade. Its no secret that this ordeal has been tough and stressful on my family physically, psychologically, and economically.

In less than two weeks Id complete my 16th year at the University of South Florida, an institution that I respect and am proud to be a part of. During all these years my record shows that I have always conducted myself professionally. I love the teaching profession and have always enjoyed the challenges of the classroom. I received the best teacher award as well as the prestigious TIP award in teaching in the college of Engineering. I have over 40 publications including a chapter that has just appeared in the Mechatronics handbook published 2 weeks ago.

Im addressing you this afternoon via a telephone hookup because I have been banned from campus. Im told that I cannot be on campus because some people, over 100 days ago, decided to threaten me and disrupt the university after my appearance on a FOX news program. I was invited on that program not because I was a USF faculty member, but because I was considered a leader in the American Muslim community, as well as a civil rights activist. Between September 11th and 26th, I participated in many ecumenical services and multicultural activities hoping to foster better understanding and more cooperation between the American Muslim community and the community at large. I was led to believe by the FOX producers that my appearance on that program was to help deepen that understanding. Frankly, I was reluctant to appear, and I shouldve followed my mothers advice, and that is to always follow my instincts. But I thought that my concern for the public backlash against the American Muslim and Arab communities, and the enormity of the September 11th tragedy should take precedence over my apprehensions. Im sorry to say that the focus of the program was not as it was represented to me when I agreed to appear.

Mr. President:

What happened after the program aired was an orchestrated campaign against me and the university to undermine the function of a public institution through mostly irrational behavior. I was told that its in the best interest of the university to be on paid leave. I was very concerned about my students, but I complied. I was told that I was not under any investigation, but rather those who are disrupting the universitys life were. Im not an insubordinate person. If it was clear, that I was not to come to campus I would have gladly complied. It was not clear. I came to campus on October 5th not to defy the administration, but to address a campus students organization that Im an advisor of. If I had thought that I was banned from coming to campus I certainly would not have attended. When I received the provosts letter on October 8th asking me not to come to campus I responded the next day that despite the hardship, I would comply. For the first time in 16 years, I have not been on campus for over 3 months.

To be absolutely clear and remove every shred of a doubt: I do not, nor have I ever spoken on behalf of the University of South Florida. I have on many occasions made it clear to journalists and reporters that I speak as a leader in the Muslim and Arab community and in my capacity as the president of the National Coalition to Protect Political Freedom, a coalition of over 40 organizations coming together to defend civil and constitutional rights. This summer on July 16th, in an article in Newsweek magazine about the support of Arab Americans for President Bush, the article said: Al-Arian is one of the countrys leading advocates for repeal of secret-evidence laws. I was not identified as a USF professor but as the countrys leading advocate in a civil rights issue.

Mr. President:

During my career I have never brought any politics to the classroom, my department or the university. I have not disrupted the university nor am I responsible for the actions of others. I dont have any control over other peoples actions that could be illegal, irrational or disruptive. Its no secret that I have exercised my first amendment rights in speaking on issues of importance to me and to the public at large. Ive not, however, placed my personal interest above my responsibility to the university.

Im very surprised to hear Dr. Genshaft referring today to WISE as a possible front. Id like to remind the senators that an investigation led by Attorney William Reece Smith Jr., commissioned by USF in which he concluded by praising the work of WISE. A judge who looked at all the allegations surrounding WISE has concluded in October 2000 by saying: Although there were allegations that the ICP and WISE were fronts for Palestinian political causes, there is no evidence before the Court that demonstrates that either organization was a front To the contrary, there is evidence in the record to support the conclusion that WISE was a reputable and scholarly research center and the ICP was highly regarded.

Mr. President:

During my sophomore year in 1976, I was 18 when I took my first government course. In the first day of class the professor talked about the two Ds as he called them: due process and dissent. Ironically, quarter of century later these two important concepts are at the center of my professional career. With all due respect, I dont think that I was afforded any due process. The decision to terminate a tenured professor is indeed a serious one. The case before the faculty senate this afternoon is indeed about academic freedom and freedom of speech. I did not choose to be the poster child for the debate about academic freedom in the post Sep. 11 world. But now that I am, Id like to remind you that all of us are being scrutinized not just I. What you choose to do this afternoon is going to reflect upon all of us.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the senate:

We will refute the allegations against me categorically. But even if these charges were true, the tenured faculty of this university should be concerned:

§ That the administration believes that its justified in terminating the employment of a 16-year tenured faculty member because he did not accompany off campus remarks with a disclaimer that he wasnt speaking on behalf of the university.

§ That the administration believes that it can fire a tenured faculty member because he attended a meeting on campus while on paid leave.

§ That the administration believes it can fire a tenured faculty member because his public pronouncements conflict with the political views with those in power.

If this action is allowed to stand, you should all be concerned about your job security and the professional compromises you may be required to make to keep your jobs.

Mr. President:

Next week the nation will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Lets remember what he said: “The time is always right to do what is right.

Thank you very much.