Chicago…About one year ago, Professor Thomas Klocek’s out-of-class debate with Muslim student groups led to his suspension without a hearing. DePaul University followed up with negative publicity about him, which defamed Klocek’s reputation. Now, after Klocek filed a slander law suit, DePaul’s attorneys are working to keep court documents secret. Last week, DePaul University filed a motion for entry of a protective order asking that information it provides on the case not be made public. Among the words used to explain why DePaul did not want the public to see the documents was “embarrassment.” Previously, DePaul said publicly that Klocek was “unprofessional[1],” had “health issues that …were affecting his teaching[2]” and his opinions were “erroneous assertions[3].” DePaul also seeks to censor information from future depositions in this case.

“Their request looks like a cover up. They want to block the public from seeing entire documents, not just specific confidential or sensitive information like names or phone numbers. Klocek never got to see the written evidence against him that resulted in his suspension and caused his name to be defamed,” said Klocek’s attorney, Andy Norman of Mauck & Baker. “DePaul University went public in newspapers across the country telling its side of the story against Klocek. Now that there’s an opportunity for the public to know the truth about why Klocek was really suspended, DePaul wants to hide that information.

“Klocek got the boot after discussing the relationship among Arabs, Christians and Jews in the Middle East at a Catholic University. Yet, later this month Ward Churchill, portrayed by many in the media as one of the most notorious professors in America, is scheduled to speak freely at DePaul University. How ironic.”

NOTE: Complete protective order is available upon request.

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1 Holtschneider, Rev. Dennis H. (2005, April 8). Letter to Foundation for Individual Rights in Education

2 Holtschneider, Rev. Dennis H. (2005, April 9). Speakout: Instructor’s Ouster at DePaul Clarified. The Rocky Mountain News

3 Dumbleton, Susanne (2004, October 8). SNL Seeks to Resolve Situation; The DePaulia