University of Nebraska Takes Matters Into Its Own Hands
| Mon Mar. 12, 2007 6:54 PM PDT
The University of Nebraska has a specialty in the study of indigenous peoples, so it decided to hire Bolivian expert Waskar Ari as an assistant professor of history and ethnic studies, to teach from August 15, 2005, to May 16, 2008. However, Professor Ari has yet to teach a class because the Department of Homeland Security will not process his paperwork. The university paid $1,000 for expedited processing, which guarantees a response in fifteen days. DHS returned the $1,000 and explained that it was waiting for security checks and clearance. Apparently, these have never taken place.
On March 2, the University of Nebraska filed a lawsuit against DHS and DHS director Michael Chertoff, and others. The suit was filed to stop the agency from "unlawfully withholding or unreasonably delaying action" on the university's petition. The suit also argues that DHS did not have the authority to investigate security allegations during the employer's petition stage.
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This is an important case of academic freedom and the free movement of people in an age of Homeland Security.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
For more info, go to: http://www.history.unl.edu/news/ari/ari.html
Please SPREAD THE WORD about this important case as broadly as possible.
Also, please write to Chertoff in Homeland Security and Rice in the State Department urging them to act on Dr. Ari's case. Also, please contact your local congressional reps and consider writing a letter to your local newspaper about it.
If you are interested, the UNL Nebraskans for Peace chapter has created a "Where's Waskar?" t-shirt (based on popular "Where's Waldo" books of the '90s) for $12 to help support the campaign. If interested, email me (see below).
Thanks,
Dr. Patrick Jones
pjones2@unl.edu
It is normal for the government to be slow. I know immigrants who get their applications lost or there is simply a delay of years. Better resubmit the application and be extra nice to the INS clerks, or they will toss it. If you come in with attitude, this is how you get treated. With better planning(allow 9-12 months) things may get done. Look at the post office. Don't see evil conspiracies behind every government employee's extended lunch break. If you ever worked for the government you would understand the government worker mentality. They are human like anybody else with power to make your life stressfull. Sort of like a univeristy professor. What goes around comes around.
