The board's decision to reject Salaita's hiring led to protests on campus and a national debate in academia over whether the U. of I. violated his free speech rights and academic freedom — the principle that protects faculty members who have unpopular and controversial views. Faculty unrest about the decision continued through the fall semester, and a faculty report last month found that the U. of I. erred in the process used to rescind Salaita's job offer, though it also found there could have been valid reasons not to hire him.