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Temple University Professors Question University Judgment on IIIT Donation
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 :: 1500 Views
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 The Temple Association of University Professionals (TAUP) has initiated an investigation into circumstances that led to the withdrawal of an offer of a substantial donation for the founding of the Professor Ismail al Faruqi Chair of Islamic Studies at Temple University. The offer was made by the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) to honor the memory of a distinguished scholar who was a pioneer of Islamic studies at a major American university as well as a co-founder of IIIT.
The TAUP issued a statement on the University’s delay that caused IIIT to withdraw its offer. The statement said: “Last Saturday (January 5, 2008), the Philadelphia Inquirer published an article about the withdrawal of an offer of funds by the International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), the scholarly organization that was prepared to endow a named Islamic Studies chair in Temple's Department of Religion. Based on the research we have been able to do through publicly available sources and interviews with knowledgeable individuals, IIIT has a distinguished history of scholarly publications on Islamic topics, academic conference sponsorship, and other educational projects. However, it appears that outside entities might have negatively influenced some members of Temple's Board of Trustees and Office of University Counsel.”
“TAUP is deeply concerned about the implications regarding the status of academic freedom and shared governance at Temple. We are actively investigating this situation and speaking with those involved,” the statement added.
To read the Inquirer article, click here.
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