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SIU able to research
in Cuba again / The Southern
By Caleb Hale, The
Southern Illinoisan, Illinois, Sep 08
2004.
CARBONDALE -- The door to Cuba is open
again to Southern Illinois University.
University officials and Southern Illinois
congressmen successfully convinced the U.S.
Department of Treasury to restore SIU's
license for research on the communist Caribbean
island, after it previously had been revoked.
SIU was one of many American universities
hit with the current presidential administration's
harder line against communication with Cuba.
SIU's license expired June 30, and government
officials did not renew the document.
Between the efforts of former Gov. George
Ryan and the late former Sen. Paul Simon,
Illinois has shown interest in opening lines
of trade between the United States and island
nation for several years. A delegation from
SIU traveled to Cuba in 2000, which resulted
in a six-hour meeting between Simon and
Cuban president Fidel Castro.
John Haller, SIU vice president for academic
affairs, saw those efforts wasting away
a few months ago, when word came the university's
research license would not be renewed. Appealing
the rejection was always part of the plan;
Haller said he is just surprised it worked.
"What helped me on this is something
I did not anticipate," Haller said.
"We had two students essentially stuck
over there (in Cuba)."
Haller said one anthropology student's
research was cut short by the license's
rejection, while another Cuban student couldn't
come to the Carbondale campus, even though
she had financial aid already in place.
Haller said he worked with a university
lobbyist in Washington, D.C., to get the
message across that Cuba was an important
aspect of SIU's research itinerary.
SIU's efforts caught the attention of both
U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello, D-Belleville,
and John Shimkus, R-Collinsville. U.S. Rep.
Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, also helped in the
renewal process.
David Gillies, a spokesman for Costello,
said the congressmen simply showed the treasury
department open communication with Cuba
was beneficial for SIU and posed little
threat in the overall scheme of national
security.
"Basically we just supported the case
for the university," Gillies said.
"We helped highlight how this was affecting
the university and particularly in the situation
of the two students."
Shimkus said the matter didn't require
any personal phone calls or favors on anyone's
part.
"I wish I could say I had a great
plan," he said. "I guess it doesn't
hurt when you're a Republican member of
Congress asking a Republican administration."
Shimkus said he was a little surprised the
appeal worked. He said he agrees with U.S.
President George W. Bush on many ideas,
but his stance toward Cuba isn't one of
them. Shimkus said the Cuban relations issue
is so embroiled in southern Florida politics
he thought it wouldn't allow any leeway.
"Maybe we're so divorced from Florida
politics it worked, and there is general
support from Southern Illinois for expanding
trade," Shimkus said.
Haller said the door to Cuba may be open
again, but it's a lot smaller this time.
SIU's license for research is only good
for one year, as opposed to the previous
license's two-year length. Haller said the
new license also comes with a set of restrictions
about who can go and for what purposes.
"It's probably going to take a few
lawyers to help me make sense of it,"
Haller said.
Haller is keeper of the license and will
be responsible for tracking and accounting
for each person who enters Cuba on SIU research
business.
caleb.hale@thesouthern.com
618-529-5454 x15090
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