No, we don't hate UIUC, but we do hate any violation of basic rights and freedoms

Salaita Day of Action (17 of 82), a photo by Jeffrey Putney on Flickr.

Since we have come under unfair criticism for simply exercising our moral prerogative in the past, I explain herein our reasons very carefully for our joining this boycott. And I hope that will put an end to the endless, bullshit speculation that we've witnessed.

There is one document that we will not touch for any client: one for UIUC --  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Wadleigh Consulting (our company) is participating in a nationwide boycott of that university on account of its highly unethical and potentially illegal actions in dismissing a professor for simply criticizing a war that was being imposed upon civilians in contravention of all international laws, that of Israel's attacks on Gaza this past summer, that resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians including hundreds of children. 

First, he has every right to express his views and cannot be punished for them under US law, but the administration of UIUC acted illegally to fire Dr. Salaita in blatant violation of both the spirit and letter of those laws. It is left to concerned citizens to uphold the fundamental right to free speech in a democracy. Democracy aside it is everyone's responsibility to condemn evil; and the indiscriminate murdering of women and children in a war IS evil; Dr. Salaita was right to criticize that as even I did personally on twitter. Of course we must condemn UIUC for attempting to silence such criticism. (Taiwanese should also consider that if this is possible that one day US professors might be removed from their positions and/or silenced for criticizing a rain of missiles fired by the PLA upon Taiwan.) 

Therefore our company has joined thousands across the US and the world in a full boycott of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Even were we neutral on this issue and amoral and disregarded all ethics I think from a practical perspective that it is unwise to seek a degree from a school that is under such scrutiny and will at some point face an investigation regarding the misconduct of their administrators. It simply lessens the value of your investment in education. Hence, we will do nothing to support any application efforts by our clients for this university.

Of course, you must make your own choices in regard to UIUC. What you decide is your business; simply we won't be a party to it. However, we are glad to help you with any other application to schools anywhere in the world (except one other university).

If you are interested in this case, I first recommend that you read Dr. Steven Salaita's article published in the Chicago Tribune in response to his dismissal. 

Read it here:  Steven Salaita: U. of I. destroyed my career