Kia Ora-

Again, today's post is going to be about current events, but from the unique spin of being at the heart of things.

What a strange, yet not totally unexpected bit of news to wake up to this morning. For those of you who don't know, Professor Sami Al-Arian was arrested this morning by the FBI. Al-Arian has been the center of controversy at USF ever since he appeared on The O'Reilly Factor just after 9/11. (If you want more about his whole background and all that, click here.) Up until now he's just been viewed as a local story with some national rumblings and a thorn in the side of USF President Judy Genshaft; now Attorney General John Ashcroft and the FBI are involved with a 118-page indictment, and Tampa has it's first high-profile link to the War on Terrorism.

I just wanted to put my personal spin on the whole thing since I can walk to my office door, take three steps and see Al-Arian's office from my window, as well as Genshaft's office.

There's a strange, tense feeling in the air. Everyone has been so vocal about the Al-Arian case since his suspension from USF, and a great majority in the university have been fully displaying "Defend Academic Freedom" paraphernalia in solidarity with Al-Arian. Now this comes out and people are strangely silent. Eerily silent. (I just question how far that support of "academic freedom" should go--would it now go to supporting bail?) We've all become used to the uneasy tension in the air since 9/11 and it's been increasing with impending war and raised terror alerts, but it's quite another thing to be at the heart of the matter. People are definitely looking over their shoulder.

I work on the top floor of the largest building on campus and I've heard fellow employees saying that they are nervous and we are a potential target. Target for what, I don't know, but I do know that in the climate we live in today nothing is out of the question.

Also, as a library employee I've had the chance in the past to personally assist Dr. Al-Arian with library business (picking up Reserves mostly and this was a few years back when I was in Stacks). In what limited dealings I've had with him he never did anything to me personally to make me hate him or even dislike him. From my recollection, he was a nice guy. (He never came up to me and shouted, "Death to Israel!") And I've never had any problem with supporting academic freedom. However, as a USF employee, I have always viewed his suspension more as a matter of workplace safety. After his appearance on TV the university received many threats of violence, and this created an unsafe work environment. This was an issue of an employer rectifying a potentially dangerous situation within it's area responsibility. Judy Genshaft and the Board of Trustees took the correct path of action. I honestly don't think that they were "out to get" Al-Arian--that's just bullshit. He may be a brilliant professor, but unfortunately we all make our own beds and have to sleep in them eventually.

The bottom line is that the next few days, weeks, and months could be very interesting around here. But I hope not.

Keep the faith,

-N.