April 2, 2014, Chicago – Yesterday afternoon, the Senate Judiciary Committee of the Illinois Senate rejected Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 59, proposed by Senator Ira Silverstein (D-Chicago), that urged Illinois university and college presidents to condemn academic boycotts as a form of protest. The vote was 3 for the resolution, 2 against, and 5 “present.”
Read MoreThe Center for Constitutional Rights today submitted a here to the Illinois State Senate Judiciary Committee opposing Senate Joint Resolution 59, which condemns all academic boycotts, and urges universities to do the same. A hearing on SJR 59 is scheduled today at 4pm in Springfield, IL. The letter from CCR states that "Faculty members and students, not legislators or administrators, should determine the content and form of their own academic expression in a forum that is intended to be a 'marketplace of ideas.'"
Read MoreThere is a new, dangerous challenge to academic freedom in Illinois. While we were able to mobilize opposition to Senate Bill 3017, its sponsor, Senator Ira Silverstein, has introduced a toxic resolution, SJR 59, which is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, April 1 at 4 p.m. in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Read MoreThe Center for Constitutional Rights sent a letter to Barnard College President Debora Spar on March 13, 2014 urging her to reconsider her decision to remove a Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (C-SJP) banner advertising Israeli Apartheid Week events. The letter advises President Spar that free speech principles require that messages not be treated differently based on the controversy they provoke.
Read MoreAfter our vigorous call-in campaign March 4th, the Illinois Higher Education Committee postponed action on the anti-boycott bill. Last Friday, the bill was reassigned to the Judiciary Committee and the bill may be up for discussion as early as TODAY Wednesday, March 19 at 3 p.m. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW.
Read MoreThe Center for Constitutional Rights sent a letter to Barnard College President Debora Spar on March 13, 2014 urging her to reconsider her decision to remove a Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine (C-SJP) banner advertising Israeli Apartheid Week events. The letter advises President Spar that free speech principles require that messages not be treated differently based on the controversy they provoke.
Read MoreMarch 4, 2014, Chicago – A bill that would prohibit public universities and colleges from using any state funds on groups that have made statements in support of, or that participate in boycotts of Israeli academic institutions has been introduced in the Illinois State Senate and will be considered in the Senate’s Higher Education Committee.
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