The University’s Illinois Fermentation and Agriculture Biomanufacturing program has received a substantial boost with a $51 million grant from the federal government. This funding is part of a $504 million allocation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. 

The grants are part of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. The act, formally known as Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors, aims to “advance America’s global leadership in critical technologies, and strengthen our national and economic security,” according to the EDA.

The White House announced that 12 tech hubs across the nation will share the $504 million to enhance regional innovation and growth. The iFAB focuses on biomanufacturing, converting crops like corn and soybeans into a wide range of high-value commodities.

In a press release, Vice President Kamala Harris stated the importance of this investment.

“Every American deserves the opportunity to thrive, no matter where they live,” Harris stated. “These Tech Hubs will give regions across our nation the resources and opportunities necessary to lead in the economy of tomorrow while creating good-paying jobs for American workers.” 

According to WCIA, state leaders are pleased with iFAB’s selection for this funding. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) expressed enthusiasm at the decision.

“I’m so pleased iFAB is receiving this critical Tech Hub funding, unlocking innovation, investment and job creation for years to come,” Duckworth said. “Illinois is already a hub of agriculture, manufacturing, transportation and technology, making our state ideally positioned for these Tech Hub awards.”

Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), whose district includes the University, responded similarly.

“The $51 million federal investment in the iFAB Tech Hub is a game changer for Central Illinois,” Budzinski said. “The funding announced today will build on that foundation with explosive economic growth and place Decatur, Monticello and Champaign at the center of a booming bioeconomy.”

More information on the CHIPS and Science Act is available on the EDA’s website. More information about iFAB is available on their website. 

qjato2@dailyillini.com

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The University of Illinois Police Department released a Campus Safety Notice on Friday after a reported “inappropriate touching” incident at the Main Library. The notification is in accordance with the Clery Act, which mandates the disclosure of certain crimes to ensure campus safety.

“University Police have received a report that a student was inappropriately touched at approximately 12:30 PM on Friday, 6/21/2024, at The Main Library, 1408 W. Gregory Drive, in Champaign,” the notice stated.

According to UIPD, the victim was reported to have been touched in a private body part over the exterior of their clothes. The notice also states that the offender was not known to the victim.

The stated purpose of the notice is to inform the campus community, promote awareness and prevent future incidents. UIPD encourages anyone with information to contact them at 217-333-1216. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Champaign County Crime Stoppers via 217-373-TIPS, 373tips.com or the P3 Tips mobile app.

In the notice, UIPD also highlighted the importance of community involvement in preventing sexual violence. They urged students to practice enthusiastic consent, intervene in unsafe situations when possible and support those affected by sexual misconduct. The Student Assistance Center and the Emergency Dean Program offer additional support for those impacted by such incidents.

“Survivors and victims are never at fault for the violence they experience,” the notice stated. “The only person responsible for sexual misconduct is the perpetrator.”

For 24/7 assistance, people can access resources like the Rape Advocacy, Counseling and Education Services hotline at 217-384-4444 and the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s website. 

For more details on safety measures, reporting options and support services, visit wecare.illinois.edu.

qjato2@dailyillini.com

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The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has gone through many iterations over the years. Since its founding in 1862, the University has been called many names, with “UIUC” gaining popularity in recent years. However, those days are soon to be over, as a marketing team at the University has been carefully planning a rebrand. 

One of the most notable changes that will be implemented in University messaging and branding is how it will be referenced. The University is moving away from being called “UIUC” and suggests other common names, including “U. of I.,” “Illinois,” “Urbana” and “the Urbana campus.” The guidelines specify that the first reference to Illinois should always be “University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.”

This change has been made to limit confusion between references to the Urbana-Champaign school and its sister schools, University of Illinois Chicago and University of Illinois Springfield. 

“When new institutions became part of the organization and we became a system, it became a little more complicated. For us, the research we’ve done shows that the more popular name is ‘Illinois’,” said Robin Kaler, Associate Chancellor for Strategic Communications and Marketing.

According to Kaler, the names “UIUC” and “UIC” are common causes of confusion among college applicants and Illinois residents alike.

“Sometimes we hear of students who apply for one intending to apply for the other,” Kaler said.

The new brand guidelines specify four pillars that encapsulate Illinois: innovation, community, momentum and discovery. These four pillars are intended to be descriptive words to reflect what Illinois offers to those who engage with it.

“Your brand is the promise that an organization makes to anyone who engages with that organization,” Kaler said. “So you want to make clear to people that if you interact with us, this is what you should expect. The brand is kind of the embodiment of that.”

The new brand guidelines do not only provide insight on the suggested nomenclature for Illinois but also for the visual identity. 

Perhaps most important to the visual brand of Illinois is the Block I logo, which students and community members can see on signs across campus. 

The guidelines feature three possible logos that those who want to sport the Illinois name can choose from, with the orange Block I outlined in blue being the primary version. 

This also means the Block I must include the trademark symbol for all merchandise. While vendors can submit a request to omit the trademark via email to the Licensing and Trademark Office, the guidelines suggest downloading the trademark Block I from their website.

Another notable inclusion to the brand guidelines is a pronunciation guide for Illinois-affiliated buildings, names and laboratories. 

Students and community members can access audio recordings as well as phonetic spellings of various Illinois-related words, including a guide for how to pronounce the Native Tribes featured in the University’s Land Acknowledgement Statement.

The rebrand has been championed by Chancellor Robert Jones, who noticed that the Illinois website lacked the cohesion he wanted to implement at the University. With help from the Office of Strategic Communications and Marketing, Jones assisted in creating the new guidelines within the University’s budget with the goal of encompassing the Illinois promise.

“To provide limitless opportunities to anyone driven to pursue their impossible, that’s what we’re here for,” Kaler said.

aka10@dailyillini.com 

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UPDATE: May 30, 1:21 a.m.

A second update from Illini-Alert notified subscribers that police were on scene and investigating the incident. Individuals were again advised to avoid the area.

UPDATE: May 30, 1:36 a.m.

A third Illini-Alert notified subscribers of police having searched the scene, and the authorities believe the suspects involved in the incident have left the area. According to the update, it is safe to resume normal activities.

nroacho2@dailyillini.com

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The Illini Union Board held this summer’s first weekly movie night on the Main Quad Thursday. The 2024 biographical film “Bob Marley: One Love” was projected on a large, inflatable screen on the north end of the Main Quad, just in front of the Illini Union. 

Dozens of University students, faculty, staff and Champaign-Urbana residents attended the screening, setting up blankets and bringing cinema-style snacks. The Union Quad Shop was open until 10 p.m., selling an assortment of drinks, snacks and popcorn to attendees. 

Before the movie began, Union staff handed out glow sticks and projected multiple slides on the screen, including a land acknowledgment, a viewer discretion warning, a list of this summer’s planned movies and various advertisements for the University’s resources and events.

The Marley biopic follows the Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter from his rise to fame in the mid-1970s until his death from cancer in 1981. The film depicts Marley’s attempt to unite Jamaica through music during a particularly violent time in the country’s history.

The IUB, which is the University’s event planning board, plans and organizes all the movie screenings. The board consists of 11 planning communities, which organize hundreds of student events annually. 

Junior in LAS and IUB President Abby Stiefvater discussed the movie screenings and the impact on the University community.

“The IUB has been doing this for a long, long time,” Stiefvater said. “It was especially a big thing during COVID-19 because of all the restrictions on events. This is a great opportunity to provide for students but keep them at a safe capacity.”

Regarding the benefits of the movie screenings for the students on campus during the summer, Stiefvater said that it allows people to get out of their apartments, relax and enjoy the night on the Main Quad. 

Stiefvater also noted the difficulties of traveling to the movie theater from campus without having a car.

“It’s beautiful weather out,” Stiefvater said. “We get to show some movies that students don’t necessarily have the chance to see because it’s hard to get to the movie theater if you don’t have a car; you’d have to take a bunch of buses and all that.”

Stiefvater added that in order to determine the movie lineup, members of the IUB consult with film experts about the most popular recent movie releases and select a diverse range of genres to showcase for students. 

This summer, the movie lineup includes action movies like “Dune: Part Two” and “Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire,” as well as comedies like “Kung Fu Panda 4” and “IF.” Movies will be shown every Thursday at 9 p.m., with the final screening of the summer set on August 8.

qjato2@dailyillini.com

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The first one, sent at 6:18 a.m., urged community members to “use caution and avoid the area.” Shortly after, at 6:43 a.m., the Illini-Alert notified subscribers that police were currently on the scene and addressing the situation but warned passersby to continue avoiding the area.

Police contained the suspect, with a notification sent at 7:59 a.m. While it claimed there was “no broader threat to the community,” the alert again instructed subscribers to continue steering clear of the area.

Police sent a final alert at 8:34 a.m., claiming the emergency was over and that it was “safe to resume regular activities.”

More information on subscribing to Illini-Alerts can be found here.

mnarag2@dailyillini.com

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**Sources have elected to remain anonymous.**

In a fret of meetings, petitioning and discussions these past few weeks, members of the University of Illinois Symphony Orchestra, along with other School of Music students, staff, faculty and community members, have begun what they hope to be the end of a year-long process to demand the removal of Dr. Carolyn Watson from her position as the Director of Orchestras.

“The teaching assistants and students of the School of Music have endured relentless bullying, abuse, harassment, manipulation and retaliation under the baton of Dr. Carolyn Watson,” UIUC Musicians for a Better Orchestra stated in their latest press release.

Before Watson was hired into the position two years ago, she had resigned from the University of Kansas following alleged gender discrimination from the KU administration toward her. Upon her arrival in Illinois, she was immediately given tenure — a status typically awarded to educators who have completed four consecutive school terms but can be expedited through portable tenure. Ahead of both employments, Watson led, directed and collaborated on several orchestras and programs worldwide, receiving notable awards. 

Her resume and rank as tenured staff have and will pose complications for any efforts to request her dismissal from the position.

“For over a year, multiple students have tried to go through university channels to correct this abusive behavior, including Title IX, Human Resources, Office of Access and Equity and two School of Music Directors,” according to the UISO’s official petition website and statements to The Daily Illini. “Attempts have led to nothing.”

Since before her hire, students and faculty have had concerns regarding Watson’s reputation and teaching style. Many participants in these efforts are former students of Watson from her time at KU.

“I heard that the director of an orchestra had been hired from a school that I was familiar with,” a graduate student said. “I knew that the quality of the orchestra was pretty low and I was surprised to hear that she had been hired here.”

According to those who have performed under her at Illinois, her reputation has rung true and then some.

“She used her power as a conductor to humiliate and intimidate students who disagreed with her musical interpretations or program decisions,” an undergraduate representative of the UIUC Musicians for a Better Orchestra student said in a statement to The DI via Reddit. “(She) is currently taking action against one of our School of Music directors for standing up for us and working with us to try and correct this situation.”

Dr. Watson has failed to address any claims publicly or directly to the DI.

On April 30, as an official first step in a process that has been in flux since last spring, orchestra musicians, along with other School of Music students, staff and faculty, gathered in the Krannert Center for Performing Arts to march a petition with over 500 signatures — 84% of the orchestra — collected in one week to the dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts, Kevin Hamilton.

The petition outlines the “significant incompetence” observed under Dr. Watson’s leadership, including exploiting and retaliating against teaching assistants.

“Dr. Watson has consistently failed to do the work to effectively run her programs, forcing her TAs to pick up her slack and work 40+ hours a week on top of their academics,” said an undergraduate student in an announcement on Reddit. “She has responded to TAs and administration who disagree with her by retaliation. This includes unfair grading practices and semester reviews, and comments made to prospective students and colleagues framing her TAs as bad students and difficult to work with.”

These labor grievances have been filed through the Graduate Employee’s Organization, a union for teaching and graduate assistants.

This was but a quarter of the concerns brought up in the petition. Watson has also been claimed to promote a harmful and unsafe learning environment.

“She gave musicians s— for managing injuries like tendinitis and carpal tunnel,” said another student in a statement to The DI via Reddit. 

Her communication practices have been seen as disrespectful in the classroom, in emails and directly to individuals.

“What should have been a ‘Hey, welcome to Illinois, these are the people to contact’ type email, which she did include, was followed with, ‘although they’re not very good,’ criticizing their musicianship, their personalities, their personal lives — anything that she could grab at, she was putting in that email,” said a faculty member during the march regarding an email sent to an incoming doctoral student.

These communications teetered past disrespectful, earning the term “disgusting” from orchestra members.

“She has made multiple sexually suggestive comments to me and invited me for one-on-one time,” said a student in a statement to The DI via Reddit. “With an indication that I could get a more prominent chair by sleeping with her.”

In a similar but otherwise unrelated situation, Dr. Watson, in response to a student’s rejection, “made comments to prospective students and colleagues in an attempt to frame (the student) as a villain and as someone who has ‘difficulty working with women,’” per a statement made by an undergraduate representative of UIUC Musicians for a Better Orchestra to DI via Reddit.

In addition to the unbecoming descriptions of her character, the petitioners and signees stressed the inefficient artistic practices of Watson.

“I spent two semesters in rehearsals with her and she never once made anything deeper out of the music,” a graduate student expressed while participating in the march. “There was never any emotion put into it.”

Her technical skills and abilities as an educator allegedly fall short as well. According to the petition, Watson lacks preparation, does not teach efficiently and as a conductor, ambiguates her hand gestures.

“I’ve heard that she has joked about not studying or preparing for rehearsals,” the same student said. “Her conducting was never very clear or prepared.”

Among a heap of unfavorable opinions, some of Watson’s pupils of orchestras’ past have taken with them fond memories but remain sympathetic.

“I played under Dr. Watson’s leadership about 10 years ago and only had pleasant experiences with her,” said a former student of Watson’s in a statement to The DI via Reddit. “I’m really sad to hear that she is abusing her power now in this position.”

While Dean Hamilton was not on campus to receive the petition in hand, the march did bear fruit. 

On May 8, UIUC Musicians for a Better Orchestra, alongside labor representatives from the Graduate Employees’ Organization, met with Hamilton and other leaders across the FAA. During the meeting, a list of demands was shared as well as the consequences if these demands were not met.

Dean Hamilton and his administration reviewed the petition and supplemental material and requested a follow-up meeting on Tuesday, May 14. In this meeting, Hamilton provided further information on the University’s due process and grievance offices but was unable to meet any of the students’ demands.

At the time of this release, the petition for Dr. Watson’s removal has amassed over 1,000 signatures. As a supplementary measure, a 41-page Title IX report is in the process of being filed.

This process may see further delay as the College of Fine and Applied Arts ushers in a new dean. Dean Hamilton was appointed Vice Chancellor of Research and Innovation in February and is seeking a replacement.

As this develops, UIUC Musicians for a Better Orchestra has requested bi-weekly updates from the School of Music.

**This is a developing story.**

Updated May 22, 11:47 a.m. : An earlier version of this story was incorrect when stating “In response to the student’s refusal,” indicating that Watson’s response was to the quote preceding it when in fact, it was in response to a different student’s experience and retaliation.

ms98@dailyillini.com

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The city wrote in a press release that the westbound lane of Green Street will be closed from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on May 21, where JSM Management and Custom Service Crane will install a crane for roof maintenance. The westbound lane of Green Street will be detoured. 

In a separate press release, the city announced that one northbound lane of Randolph Street will be closed on May 22 from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for Clean-Way Window Cleaning. The closure will reduce northbound traffic to a single lane. 

The City of Champaign releases all construction and public service-related news on its website.

qjato2@dailyillini.com

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Students for Justice in Palestine released a joint statement at 7 a.m. in conjunction with Faculty for Justice in Palestine. 

In the statement posted to their Instagram, SJP stated, “We have chosen to TEMPORARILY take down the encampment on our own terms.”

The members of the encampments began moving out supplies at approximately 12:30 a.m. this morning and taking down tents at 3 a.m.

SJP explained in the statement that the teach-ins and the overall experience “have done more to bring the walls down between the community and the University than the University has done in all of its initiatives and investments.”

SJP said the encampment — which they coined the “Popular University for Gaza” — created a general sense of community and solidarity. 

They also revisited the arrests made on April 26, referring to how Illinois State Attorney Julia Rietz had “expressed her intention to crack down on protesters.” 

They close out the statement by saying, “We will not stop until this University has severed ties from corporations that have contributed to the slaughter of over 40,000 innocent Palestinians, and most importantly, until Palestine is free.”

In a statement to The Daily Illini from the University, “the peaceful end to the prohibited encampment is helpful, and we look forward to a joyous conclusion to the semester for our graduates and visitors.”

After almost two weeks, the final tents were removed from the Main Quad around 8:40 a.m. this morning by Facilities & Services as well as members of the encampment. 

lezhava3@dailyillini.com 

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Representatives from the ongoing encampment on the south end of the Main Quad distributed a written statement to members of the press at around 5:16 p.m. Monday evening.

The statement, entitled “​​Students demand accountability from the University administration for their complicity in the genocide in Palestine and bad-faith negotiation tactics with protestors seeking divestment,” was four pages in length and gave a synopsis of the encampment beginning from its original establishment at the Alma Mater statue on Friday, April 26. 

The statement also outlined, from the protesters’ perspective, a negotiation meeting held between members of the encampment and Chancellor Robert Jones on Saturday, May 4.

According to the statement, the encampment, which was referred to as “the Popular University for Gaza,” was not established at its proposed location near Spurlock Museum in Urbana due to the presence of a police surveillance vehicle, which was not outlined in their agreement with University administration.

The statement also outlined the negotiations that took place between the evenings of Friday, April 26 and Sunday, April 28. According to a Massmail sent to members of the University community Friday evening, members of the encampment were set to negotiate with the administration on Monday afternoon, but the meeting was later canceled.

According to an April 27 interview with a protest organizer, the University later refused to meet with encampment members without prior dismantling of all structures on the Main Quad.

Protesters alleged in the statement that University administration assured encampment members multiple times that their commitment to holding a meeting the following Monday “was not contingent upon the dispersal of ongoing protests” during negotiations for the “temporary agreement” reached on Friday.

“Administration repeatedly went back on their word while simultaneously trying to villainize students who were peacefully protesting,” the statement said. “(Administration sent) a Massmail on April 28, while negotiations were still ongoing, stating that the student negotiators had ‘refused’ to meet with President Killeen and Chancellor Jones.” 

According to the statement, negotiations between protesters and the administration were nothing more than “performative acts on the administration’s behalf meant to thwart any progress that could have been made toward divestment.”

After several days of discussions with Associate Vice Chancellor Jim Hintz and other members of University administration, the protesters were ultimately able to secure a meeting with Chancellor Jones that did not require dismantling the encampment.

“Two stipulations remained: only those present during negotiations would be allowed to know about the meeting, and faculty representatives would not be allowed into the meeting as they had been previously,” the statement said. “This demand for confidentiality was a tactic to create unease and confusion across the camp and the larger Urbana-Champaign community.”

Following the death of Dr. Irfan Ahmad, assistant dean for research at Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Jones met with members of the encampment and was “welcoming” to the proposals brought forth by protesters.

According to the statement, Jones ultimately agreed to schedule a meeting on May 5 with James Moore, president and CEO of the University of Illinois Foundation where representatives from the encampment would “lay the foundation for an investment policy statement with a commitment to divest from companies that directly enable violations of international law and assaults on human rights.”

In the statement, organizers alleged that Jones arrived five minutes late to the scheduled 30-minute meeting and that he immediately informed protesters that the meeting was canceled.

The statement said Jones had “given the impression” that the meeting was for the purpose of negotiation, but that it was actually proposed in an effort to “(elevate) the lived experiences of the student organizers.”

Jones later told encampment representatives he would attempt one more time to schedule a meeting with President Tim Killeen, but also advised them that it was a “quality of good leaders to know how to deliver bad news to their constituents.”

Finally, the statement alleged that Jones “prioritized his own optics over the state of his campus, and his desire to not mirror the responses of UCLA and Columbia superseded his desire to create positive change.”

lisamc3@dailyillini.com

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At around 5 p.m. on Friday, a truck was parked on the southwest side of the Main Quad with images projected on each side of Israeli hostages taken on Oct. 7 by Hamas, the Palestinian political and militant organization that holds power across sections of the Gaza Strip.

According to Jonah Long, senior in Business, the truck was organized and paid for by groups of University alumni.

Long said the truck, which is visible from the encampment on the south end of the Main Quad, was not brought to campus as a form of counter protest. 

Protesters declined to comment on the truck and its placement between Lincoln and Gregory Halls.

According to Long, benefactors of the truck sought to bring awareness to antisemitism on campus and to remind the public of the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas.

“We want to bring attention to the number of hostages that are still being held by Hamas, kind of raising the awareness that they are still there,” Long said. “They still need our help to get freed.”

Long stated he and other Jewish students have experienced a rise in antisemitism in the months following Oct. 7. Long also said the encampment and other protests have made him and other Jewish students feel unsafe.

“When students have to walk past the encampment every day and hear antisemitic chants and signs, that is blatant hate speech,” Long said. “The US government identified and classified from the river to the sea as hate speech, which is a crime in this country.”

lisamc3@dailyillini.com

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The Non-Tenure Union Faculty Coalition took to the University’s Main Quad for a solidarity rally today at approximately noon after being in negotiations for their third contract since December 2023.

In a statement posted to Instagram on April 13, the NTFC announced the rally would be hosted in partnership with local unions such as SEIU Local 73 and AFSCME Local 698.

“Three of us (SEIU, AFSCME and NTFC) are currently bargaining new contracts with administration, so this is a great time to bring a strong show of solidarity,” the post said.

Theresa Dobbs, Communications Chair of the NFTC, said that previous negotiations with the University have resulted in pay increases that don’t reflect national inflation.

“The University has offered us the bare minimum,” Dobbs said. “SEIU, which represents building service workers and food service workers on campus, they got offered a 1% raise, which doesn’t even keep up with the rate of inflation — inflation is 3% to 4%, you know, offering them a 1% raise is really a pay cut.”

The demonstration began when a group of about 100 started the rally at the entrance of the Illini Union facing the Quad with chants ranging from “Hey-hey, Ho-ho, poverty wages have got to go” to “This is what democracy looks like.”

After approximately 45 minutes of chanting outside, the demonstrators began marching in a circle surrounding the Quad — the group passed the steps of Foellinger Auditorium while holding a banner with the NTFC’s emblem, eventually making their way back to the Union.

Outside of the Union, for approximately another hour, speakers took turns speaking in solidarity with the mission of non-tenure campus workers and supporting ongoing negotiations with the University.

“We’re still waiting to get into bargaining with the University, but we hope it’ll be a swift and successful bargaining session,” one speaker said.

Dobbs added that speakers from various unions united to stand in solidarity with University workers.

“We have representatives from each union who are speaking,” Dobbs said. “We had speakers from the two AFSCME locals on campus, 3700 and 698. We had a speaker from SEIU; we had a speaker from UFO, which is the Uni High faculty union — they’re not bargaining right now, but they came out to support us.”

Clara Belitz, co-president of the University’s Graduate Employees Organization, says her union was present at the rally in solidarity with the NTFC and all campus workers. 

“When any workers on this campus win a strong contract, that benefits all of us because it sets a precedent for future bargaining,” Belitz said. “It means that we have more solidarity and union power to demand the dignity and living wages that all workers on this campus should have the right to.”

The rally dissipated at 1:50 p.m. — about two hours after its beginning.

marypp2@dailyillini.com

angelrs2@dailyillini.com

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While the pro-Palestinian protest on the Main Quad continues, student protestors are not the only ones who populate the swarm of tents assembled at the foot of the Foellinger Auditorium. Members of University faculty have also made appearances at the encampment, showing support for the students. 

Despite their willingness to be present, faculty are running significant personal risks by being seen in the protest or voicing their thoughts on the subject.

“I think around this particular issue, there’s a lot of hesitancy and fear about speaking about it, first of all on our own, and even to the extent of supporting students,” said Maryam Kashani, associate professor in Gender and Women’s Studies and Asian-American studies. “Junior faculty are asking, ‘How much risk is there to even just be here at the encampment?’” 

The level of potential retaliation from the University and the future status of their jobs are factors that generate a level of fear in faculty looking to support protesting students — fear that Kashani believes is very real.

“I will say there’s also a lot of great faculty members who are really weighing the risks and their actual desire and responsibility to protect students and are showing up and speaking out and showing support,” Kashani said. 

Kashani highlighted that concern for repercussions is particularly prevalent in junior professors, as professors with tenure have a level of protection from termination that junior professors do not.

Junior professors are those still working under the University’s six-year probationary period, where their teaching is subject to evaluation to determine if they will achieve tenure. 

If a professor is given tenure after review from the University, the limited grounds of dismissal include gross neglect, incompetence or advocating for the overthrow of our constitutional form of government by force.

“I just got tenure this year,” Kashani said. “So I feel much more comfortable being maskless in this space, speaking to the students and being present and supporting them.”

Despite the increased security tenured faculty enjoy, the University has shown in the past that it is willing to fire tenured faculty who speak publicly on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.

In 2013, the University hired Steven Salaita as a tenured professor in the American Indian Studies Program to begin teaching in August of the following year. In the weeks leading up to the start of his position, the 2014 Gaza Conflict broke out, ultimately leading to the deaths of 2,251 Palestinians, 1,462 of whom were civilians, and 73 Israelis, six of whom were civilians. As a result, Salaita made several tweets that were extremely critical of Israel and its actions. 

Two weeks before he was set to begin his new role, Salaita was fired by the University due to the determination that the tone of the tweets was uncivil. The decision was met with backlash in the academic community, including a censure from the American Association of University Professors. 

“We actually feel the repercussions of Salaita not being here as a professor now,” Kashani said. “We don’t have an expert who can talk about the situation right now in occupied Palestine and he was actually hired to teach Indigenous studies … he was going to be thinking about ‘how do we understand indigeneity globally?’”

Regardless of the University’s past actions, Kashani still feels that she as a professor should appear at the encampment, not just for the support of students, but also for their safety.

“I think the students feel better that we’re here because they feel somehow that the administration will think twice before sending the police down,” Kashani said. “I think there’s a certain legitimacy that comes with the letters before our names.” 

Even if consequences do come, Kashani has come to terms with their worst potential, still confident in her choice to support the protesting students.

“I might lose my job,” Kashani said. “But for me, it was worth it because what’s the point otherwise, doing this job, if I can’t educate people about what’s happening in the world.”

mcbales2@dailyillini.com

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