A labor arbitrator has ruled that York University, in Toronto, violated the academic freedom of David F. Noble, a history professor there, by criticizing a pamphlet he published, according to the Toronto Star. As a result, the university must pay Mr. Noble about $2,570 (U.S.).

Mr. Noble’s 2004 pamphlet accused the university of being biased in favor of Israel and coming down more harshly on pro-Palestinian student groups. The pamphlet named some officials who work with pro-Israeli agencies and suggested that that relationship influenced the university’s decision to expel a student who held protests on the campus.

York University issued a press release with Jewish and Palestinian student leaders criticizing the pamphlet for what was referred to as “highly offensive material” and arguing that it singled out York officials for their ethnicity and political views. A Jewish student leader quoted in the press release called Mr. Noble’s criticisms “bigotry.”

Mr. Noble, who is also Jewish, filed a grievance. The arbitrator ruled that the university should have first contacted him or the York University Faculty Association before publicly denouncing him. In addition to paying the fine, the university has to remove the press release from its Web site.

Although Mr. Noble won the ruling, he got only a tiny fraction of the $10-million he asked for, and he did not receive the apology he was seeking.

Mr. Noble, who has drawn attention for his strong views on technology in education, recently settled a lawsuit against Simon Fraser University over an appointment at the Canadian institution. —Dan Carnevale