Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 10:23:24 -0700 (PDT)

9/11 Backlash in Academia: Library Assistant Fights Back

Irvine -- With tensions and patriotic fervor rising in the wake of 9/11, academia has not been immune. Four academics died in the attacks, but casualties on campus continue. Muslim student groups have come under scrutiny as Congress considers enacting foreign student bans. At University of South Florida, a Palestinian computer science professor, Sami Al-Arian, after being threatened, has been suspended with pay and asked to stay off-campus. And at UCLA's Young Research Library, a library assistant has been suspended after he e-mailed colleagues a pro-Palestinian message.

On Subversity this evening from 5-6 p.m. on KUCI, 88.9 fm in Orange County, Calif. (Web-cast via kuci.org), we chat with Jonnie Hargis, a library assistant and geographic information system specialist at UCLA's research library.

Hargis was suspended without pay from September 17-21 after library administrators decided his e-mail violated library policy (made public after he was suspended). The Daily Bruin today editorially called for library adminstrators to apologize and give him the back pay. Hargis is represented by CUE, the clerical workers' union in the UC system.

To chat with Hargis, call 949 824-5824 during the show.

Resources:

Freedom of speech under attack
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/articles.asp?ID=16568

YRL employee punished for political mass e-mail
www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/articles.asp?ID=16567

graphic showing Hargis reprimand letter
http://www.dailybruin.ucla.edu/db/rcissues/01/10.04/images/nw.employee.gfx.gif

Professor, Once the Subject of Terrorist Investigation, Is Placed on Leave After He Receives Threats chronicle.com/free/2001/10/2001100102n.htm

Thanx for listening!

dan

Daniel C. Tsang
Host, Subversity, Fridays, 5-6 p.m.
KUCI, 88.9 FM and Web-cast live via http://kuci.org 
Subversity: http://go.fast.to/sv; E-mail: subversity@kuci.org
Daniel Tsang, KUCI, PO Box 4362, Irvine CA 92616
UCI Tel: (949) 824-4978; UCI Fax: (949) 824-2700
UCI Office: 380 Main Library
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