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.”

The 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.'" 

There 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.