CHICAGO (AP) — The University of Illinois will pay a professor who lost his job offer over a series of anti-Israel tweets $600,000 plus legal costs.
The school’s board of trustees approved the settlement with Steven Salaita on Thursday by a 9-1 vote after releasing terms of the deal. The school and Salaita’s attorneys say the total value comes to $875,000.
School officials say the agreement settles Salaita’s lawsuit against the university. The university admits no wrongdoing and Salaita will not be hired.
Salaita called the settlement “vindication” and a victory for academic freedom.
He was offered a job starting in fall 2014. Then-Chancellor Phyllis Wise rescinded the offer after his tweets objecting to Israeli action against Palestinians.
Salaita maintained that he had already been hired and his speech was protected by tenure.
