Shaked to Haifa University: Where is Freedom of Expression?

Arutz Sheva ^ | 16/12/13 | Tova Dvorin

[Eleutheria5]

MK Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) sent a letter Monday to the office of Ami Ayalon, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Haifa University, and Minister of Education Shai Piron (Yesh Atid), appealing the controversial decision not to grant an honorary doctorate to Professor Yisrael Aumann.

Professor Aumann is a Nobel Laureate in Economics and a noted academic scholar, yet Haifa University chose to reject him - not based on his scholarship, but ostensibly for his political views.

Ayalon and other board members decided Sunday to decline the grant of an honorary doctorate to the laureate, on the grounds that his "political views are not in line with University values."

Shaked fired back at the claims Monday, pointing out both that Aumann's political views should not be a factor in his academic standing and that other factors in his favor were not taken into account during the review.

"How can the board refuse to grant the Professor his honorary doctorate when he has been given international legitimacy by receiving a Nobel Prize?," Shaked stated. "Why, specifically, must his home [Israel] give him a shameful dismissal when hundreds of universities around the world gladly open their doors to Professor Aumann?"

Shaked added, "It is imperative that academic institutions examine and grant a certificate of appreciation according to the scientific and academic contribution of this candidate - and not according to his political views."

.....

[Eleutheria5]

It's rather difficult to find out any info on the substance of his political views, and the article doesn't bother elaborating on them. But here's a link that tells more about him. My guess is he's right wing.

http://www.ma.huji.ac.il/~raumann/Brief%20Bio.htm

[Blennos]

It’s not that Aumann is right-wing (whatever that means), the problem for the university progressives is that Aumann doesn’t strictly conform to the left-wing orthodoxy. Dissent cannot be allowed.

[GladesGuru]

Jewish academics are the epitome of “academentia”.

“Jews for Socialism” or “Chickens for Col. Sanders” - which is more insane?