BY DAVE NEWBART STAFF REPORTER

                    A Cuban-born University of Illinois at Chicago professor claims he was denied
                    tenure because of his outspoken criticism of Fidel Castro and of Gov. Ryan's
                    trip there three years ago.

                    Juan Lopez says in a federal civil rights lawsuit filed Wednesday that his harsh
                    attacks on the Cuban leader did not sit well with Ryan, who has pushed for
                    lifting the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Ryan is an ex officio member of the
                    university's board of trustees, although he rarely attends its meetings.

                    The assistant professor of political science and Latin American studies is suing
                    to keep his job at UIC and also seeks unspecified damages.

                    The suit was filed by Judicial Watch, a conservative legal group in Washington,
                    D.C.

                    Lopez, 48, was born in Cuba but grew up in Chicago. He joined the university in
                    1995. In two early reviews for tenure, he received high marks, he said; he also
                    received awards for excellence in teaching.

                    But his application for tenure last year was narrowly denied by the faculty, and
                    then also voted down by the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences,
                    the chancellor of the university and the board of trustees.

                    He says the only reason he was given was that his soon to be released book,
                    Democracy Delayed: The Case of Castro's Cuba, wasn't good enough.

                    "It's very, very hard to believe,'' Lopez said Thursday, adding that Cuban
                    scholars have praised the book. He said he thinks it's because of his criticism.
                    "I am being dismissed from the university for being Cuban and holding these
                    views,'' he said.

                    Although other faculty have criticized the governor, few have done so who
                    haven't had tenure already, he said.

                    UIC spokesman Mark Rosati would not comment on the lawsuit, but he denied
                    there was any outside political influence on the tenure process at the university.

                    He also denied discrimination takes place in determining tenure.

                    "The decision is based upon the scholarly and teaching productivity of the
                    faculty member and the potential for future excellence,'' Rosati said.