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USM Forum -- Message Board -> AAUP-USM MESSAGE BOARD -> Hussein Story Eerily Familiar
Post Info TOPIC: Hussein Story Eerily Familiar
Jameela Lares

Date:
Hussein Story Eerily Familiar
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The HA ran a story on p. 3 this morning that I don't see in the online version.  If it's there, perhaps someone will post the link.  It concerns what appears to be university persecution of a whistleblower.  See one report at http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2005/apr/20/042010114.html.


The HA story includes further details.  The administration's tactics were pretty strong arm.  They called in the FBI under the Homeland Secruity Act back on February 2, saying that he had an Arab name and alleging that he was concocting biochemical weapons.  Nothing dangerous was found, but the admin spluttered, Yeah, but there were toxins in the lab that could have been dangerous to public health if someone left with them.  (I would imagine this is true of most biological labs in the country, but perhaps a biologist could speak to this issue.)  Further details:  "[The university president] won't say if he played a role in bringing in the FBI or discuss Hussein's claims.  Lilley maintains the university will be vindicated when state and federal investigations are complete." 


This is the first I've seen of the story, so who knows what else might be said on either side, but everything sounds eerily familiar.  The strong arm move by a university administration, the call not to rush to judgment without "all the facts," and apparently even offers of significant payments for Hussein to settle.


I'll be checking the Chronicle for further news as I can find the time.  Has anyone else read up on the situation?


Jameela



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Jameela Lares

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PS the HA story is taken from the Associated Press, so it can be more or less be found elsewhere.  See e.g. http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2682074  JL

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Ye too shall know the truth

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quote:
Originally posted by: Jameela Lares
"PS the HA story is taken from the Associated Press, so it can be more or less be found elsewhere.  See e.g. http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_2682074  JL "
This article is well worth reading. I love this statement: "Hussein said school lawyers have offered him significant payments to settle his civil lawsuits, but he has refused. "I believe in the truth," he said. "I can't wait to go to court."
   
   


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Robert Campbell

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Jameela,

The Hussein S. Hussein story doesn't just involve violations of academic freedom. It also provides an object lesson in what can happen when the Feds are given sweeping powers, allegedly to combat terrorism; how Animal Research regulations can be twisted by university administrations bent on punishing researchers (though in this case the hearing panel found against the administration); and in truly novel administrative applications of hate crimes laws (to punish the alleged victim of the hate crime).

I put up a brief item on the story at Liberty and Power.

http://hnn.us/blogs/entries/11514.html

I'm hoping several of my fellow bloggers at L and P will jump on this one. Thanks for alerting us all to it.

Robert Campbell

PS. The Nevada system is already hurting after the University of Nevada Las Vegas tried to punish an Economics professor for remarks in a lecture that it deemed politically incorrect--and widespread bad publicity ensued.

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M.R.

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quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"The Nevada system is already hurting after the University of Nevada Las Vegas tried to punish an Economics professor for remarks in a lecture that it deemed politically incorrect--and widespread bad publicity ensued."
The basketball program at UNLV has not been without controversy either.

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M.R.

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quote:
Originally posted by: M.R.
"The basketball program at UNLV has not been without controversy either. "

It's beginning to look like UNLV is a university we can aspire to emulate. We've found our niche?


'



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Robert Campbell

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Another familliar theme in the Hussein story.  This is from the Reno Gazette-Journal, December 26, 2004:


After receiving the USDA inspection report [on allegedly maltreated pigs that the university administration parked in his building, even though they had been brought in for another professor's research], Hussein said college officials changed the locks on the buildings housing the pigs and told him he could not enter his former research building without permission. Hussein then complained to the USDA that the college’s action was retaliatory. The agency then began a re-investigation of his initial claims and a possible violation of whistle blower protection laws, investigators said.


See


http://www.rgj.com/news/printstory.php?id=88428


Robert Campbell



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Jameela Lares

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I surprised that there is nothing in the Chronicle.  Perhaps they are working on a story.


Jameela



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stinky cheese man

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i did a quick search of Chronicle archives and there is no story there.

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Jameela Lares

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I've written to the Chronicle editor to inquire.  JL

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Paranoia Posts Promptly

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I don't see any connection to happenings at USM.

Hussein fits a profile that had, in a number of other instances, contributed to terrorism. It was the university's duty to report whatever it felt necessary to the appropriate government agencies. It does seem that the university's motives were less-than-pure, but the right to conduct research pales in comparison to the right to live, which is a right thousands of Americans lost on Sept. 11, 2001, after a group of Middle Eastern terrorists attacked the Twin Towers -- a purely civilian target. If you're a citizen, you get responsibilities to go along with the rights we all claim so quickly. If you are an illegal immigrant or a visa-carrying visitor, you should expect no such "freedoms." Extension of our lax attitude to visitors ended when some jackasses abused them. When the Middle Eastern communities stop harboring terrorists, they will be seen as trustworthy again.

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Jameela Lares

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quote:
Originally posted by: Paranoia Posts Promptly
"Hussein fits a profile that had, in a number of other instances, contributed to terrorism."

Yep--that sounds pretty paranoid.  The only way in which I can see Hussein "fitting a profile" is that he's from Egypt, which even then is arguably the most elegant and civilized of all Arab countries.  I'm not really keen on seeing civil rights trashed because of nationality.  That smacks of racism, big time.


I'll never deny that 9/11 was a horror worse than Pearl Harbor, but I don't want our own government to pick it up and use it as a bludgeon against freedom.  It has happened in the past.  It was easy for non-indigenous Americans to point to Custer's Last Stand to argue that we had to be tough on native Americans, even though the government had broken how many treaties?  150?  There's even a book out titled Custer Died for Your Sins.


Stereotypes are real timesavers, but justice takes work.


Jameela



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Angeline

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quote:

Originally posted by: Paranoia Posts Promptly
"I don't see any connection to happenings at USM. Hussein fits a profile that had, in a number of other instances, contributed to terrorism. It was the university's duty to report whatever it felt necessary to the appropriate government agencies. It does seem that the university's motives were less-than-pure, but the right to conduct research pales in comparison to the right to live, which is a right thousands of Americans lost on Sept. 11, 2001, after a group of Middle Eastern terrorists attacked the Twin Towers -- a purely civilian target. If you're a citizen, you get responsibilities to go along with the rights we all claim so quickly. If you are an illegal immigrant or a visa-carrying visitor, you should expect no such "freedoms." Extension of our lax attitude to visitors ended when some jackasses abused them. When the Middle Eastern communities stop harboring terrorists, they will be seen as trustworthy again."


Let us not forget that the typical terrorist in the United States these days is white, male, right-wing, and often ex-military: The Unabomber, McVeigh, Eric Rudolph, KKK (with a chapter in Petal, no less), Aryan Nations, other racist "white power" groups, killers of doctors who provide legal abortions, etc.  For more look here: http://www.terroristnextdoor.com/.



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The company we keep

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Yep, I'm feelin' much more comfortable with our foundation president on the dome with a high powered rifle, the coast COO out by the friendship oak with a rope, Pileum reading my mail and that scary guy who does Shelby's legislative dirty work operating in the shadows.

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Matthew

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RE:Terrorism Won't Work
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      Some in the middle east have problems with the United States economic and military policies toward their people, I find it sad that they resort to terrorism because this will make the change they desire impossible to achieve. They need to work through the system and use the political tools availible to them. Non-violent political action, democratic progressive change and appealing to the rest of the world to inform them of them of the hardship they endure.



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UTEP bound

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RE: RE: RE: RE: Hussein Story Eerily Familiar
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quote:
Originally posted by: M.R.
" It's beginning to look like UNLV is a university we can aspire to emulate. We've found our niche? '"

Someone should start a UNLV wannabe thread.  You could not have found a better aspirant institution.  Both schools can't fail in one sense as they have demographics on their side.  However, UNLV is a perfect negative role model.  Shady athletics, pathetic academic standards, and a focus on "research" as a way to generate money.  They've consistently tried to short cut it to the majors and ended up being a minor institution with a major negative reputation.  We've just about caught these clowns in just 3 years. 


Just wait MSU, your turns next.



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David Johnson

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Jameela, are you back in MS? Surely you aren't having the HA delivered overseas.

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Robert Campbell

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RE: RE:Terrorism Won't Work
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quote:
Originally posted by: Matthew
"         Some in the middle east have problems with the United States economic and military policies toward their people, I find it sad that they resort to terrorism because this will make the change they desire impossible to achieve. They need to work through the system and use the political tools availible to them. Non-violent political action, democratic progressive change and appealing to the rest of the world to inform them of them of the hardship they endure."

Matthew,


I think the problems of the Middle East deserve a bunch of threads of their own.


We were talking about Professor Hussein at the University of Nevada Reno.  He has lived in the US for 30 years and has no known connections to terrorists of any stripe.


Robert Campbell


 



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Third Witch

Date:
RE: RE: Hussein Story Eerily Familiar
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: David Johnson
"Jameela, are you back in MS? Surely you aren't having the HA delivered overseas."


DJ, she's still gone. Check the date of the original post. She has her computer with her though.

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Jameela Lares

Date:
Permalink Closed

quote:
Originally posted by: David Johnson
"Jameela, are you back in MS? Surely you aren't having the HA delivered overseas."

Hi, note that my post was back in April.  I'm about to deliver a lecture in Shumen, Bulgaria on the Bble and English literature.  Sorry I'm not able to keep up right now.  I'll be back on line--and reading a week's worth of posts--next Thursday when I get back to my room at Cambridge.  I'm speaking and doing research abroad.


My host in Bulgaria is a church historian/priest who was frequently in trouble during the communist period for refusing to knuckle under.  I'm quite encouraged to see people in the former Soviet bloc breathing the free air.


Jameel



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