Recently, Dr. Gordon chose to participate on a panel at the University of Chicago with several American academics who are perceived by many to be anti-Israel. The student-organized panel, “In Defense of Academic Freedom,” was held on October 12 to protest the tenure denial and dismissal of Prof. Norman Finkelstein, formerly of DePaul University. The panel has gotten some media attention and you may see an article about it, by Ben Harris of the JTA (Jewish Telegraphic Agency), in your local Jewish paper or an Associated Press article which may appear in other news media. Ben Gurion University has expressed strong regret regarding Dr. Gordon’s decision to participate in this forum and AABGU shares the assessment of the administration that he overstepped his authority when he portended to speak on behalf of the University, claiming that if Norman Finkelstein were at BGU he would have received tenure.
What follows is a statement from Prof. Rivka Carmi, BGU’s president, regarding this matter….
We respect Dr. Gordon’s right to express himself within the boundaries of academic freedom, a value held dear at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. However, Dr. Gordon is not at liberty to speak on behalf of the
University with regard to policies of the administration and there is no basis what so ever to his statement about a hypothetical situation involving Norman Finkelstein and BGU.. Furthermore, all the views expressed at this panel by Dr. Gordon are his own and by no means represent the opinions or policies of the BGU administration.
–Prof. Rivka Carmi, M.D.
President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
