"Holocaust Industry" writer denied tenure at dePaul

[n2doc]

Controversial professor denied tenure at DePaul

By Ron Grossman
Tribune staff reporter
Published June 10, 2007
Norman Finkelstein, the DePaul University faculty member whose case attracted attention beyond the academic world, has been denied tenure.

At DePaul, as elsewhere, tenure decisions are not announced publicly, but as news of Finkelstein's fate spread across the academic gossip network late Friday, DePaul's president issued a statement confirming denial of tenure and explaining the university's position on the combative political scientist.

"Over the past several months, there has been considerable outside interest and public debate concerning this decision," Rev. Dennis Holtschneider said. "This attention was unwelcome and inappropriate and had no impact on either the process or the outcome of this case."

Hailed by some for his outspoken views on Israel and Jewish issues, he has been decried by others as fomenting anti-Semitism. Supporters and opponents of Finkelstein, 53, have circulated petitions about the assistant professor, a frequent and fiery speaker on campuses across the nation.

Among his supporters are Raul Hilberg, the dean of Holocaust historians formerly at the University of Vermont, and celebrated linguist Noam Chomsky. Among those challenging the legitimacy of Finkelstein's scholarship is Harvard professor of law Alan Dershowitz.

Finkelstein is noted -- some would say, notorious -- for the heated rhetoric of his books and public appearances. He has called leaders of American-Jewish organizations "Holocaust mongers." In his book "The Holocaust Industry," he portrayed legal efforts to get compensation for World War II slave laborers as an extortion.
more:http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-tenure_bd10jun10,1,1567234.story

[still_one]

1. and finkelstein has his own nice little industry itself

It wasn't just the Holocaust in nazi Germnay, it was the history of the world trying to eliminate the Jews, from the ancient times to the present.

It seems that the 12 to 15 million Jews left in the world today, still upset a lot of people, just because they have survived, and it means very little if Finkelstein's parents were holocaust surviers, HE wasn't

[WiseButAngrySara]

2. If Cindy Sheehan can be labeled an anti-Semite, who can't? ....n/t

[terisan]

3. Dershowitz Encourages Use of Torture by US & Israelis. He supports Scooter Libby.

Immediately after 9/11 Dershowitz said it may be necessary to use torture and has defended his position since. Claims torture used by Israelis is productive. He recently wrote letter to judge in Libby trial on Libby's behalf.

If Deshhowitz is in favor of something I need to know more before deciding whether it is right or wrong.