Posted on 06/11/2005 3:54:39 PM PDT by freespirited
This newspaper devoted a great deal of space this past week probing charges of academic misconduct against Ward Churchill, and not everyone of course had time to read it all. But if you examined even two or three stories and scanned the rest, we bet you reached the same conclusion we have: There is no way the University of Colorado can permit Churchill to remain on its staff without indicting the scholarship of every other professor.
If Churchill's shoddy work is not beyond the pale, then the integrity of all research at the university is in doubt.
All the facts laid out in recent days point to one unavoidable conclusion: Churchill did plagiarize, and he did invent historical events to suit his political agenda.
True, it turns out that not all of the charges the standing committee on research misconduct is considering are equally damaging to the professor. His invention of facts surrounding the smallpox epidemic among the Mandan Indians in 1837 is more reprehensible than his misrepresentation of the Dawes Act.
His appropriation of Professor Fay Cohen's work for a 1992 essay is more inexcusable than his almost word-for-word use of a paragraph by Professor Rebecca Robbins.
His claims of Indian ancestry, although almost certainly bogus, at least may have stemmed from family lore. Churchill should have acknowledged the truth many years ago instead of slyly trying to throw critics off his track, but it will be difficult for the committee to categorically conclude he knew all along that he was no more of an Indian than King George III.
Several of the clearest violations of scholarly practice aren't even being investigated yet by the university, although they clearly ought to be. As reporter Laura Frank recounted a week ago, Churchill also presented as his own, without apparent permission, an essay produced by an environmental group. And he reprinted the work of three scholars under their own names but without permission in apparent violation of copyright law.
There are those who insist that the committee's conclusions will be tainted by the fact that the probe would not have occurred absent the controversy provoked by Churchill's 9/11 essay. In other words, however outrageous Churchill's misconduct, it amounts to a pretext for retribution against unpopular views.
Nonsense. The argument implies that any professor who resorted to incendiary speech would be vulnerable to similar charges. And that is simply not the case. You could comb the work of most CU professors from now till their retirement and fail to unearth any significant transgressions.
The university never sought a pretext for firing Churchill. To the contrary: Its officials spoke up swiftly in defense of his free-speech rights, never dreaming that he harbored so many skeletons in his closet. But they - like Churchill himself - have been cornered by the facts, and have no choice now but to dismiss him.
But they haven't dismissed him, have they?
Facts are such little things in the world of the far left.
Somebody please post ths on DU.
Jay Silverheels bump!
Does the left have any heroes left that have not been proven to be frauds?
My computer is not allowed over there.
This newer Freeper lives for that kind of thing....
Ya gotta give Rocky Mountain News, their due. They have been tenacious in showing/proving Churchill for the liar he is.
What's his name is already little more than a dim memory. Which is pretty dim.
Dumping Churchill is a necessary step on that path.
If CU don't dispose of Churchill, and quickly, CU will languish in hypo-mediocracy forever.
The RMN is to be commended.
If the democrat party has a core of level-headed members, they are just wishing DU would return to a college dormitory and stay there.
Is the governor still snoozing this one off ?
I fear there are more than enough Leftists, "Progressives" and dumb ass cowards at Colorado U. to save Churchill's ass..
My prediction, He remains...
Semper Fi
I think you're on to something.
Either that or replaces Howie Dean as DNC Chairman.
OUT-OF-STATE STUDENTS
CU polled out-of-state students who were admitted to CU-Boulder but did not enroll. Reasons for not attending were:
• Tuition too high......42%
• Better academics elsewhere......35%
• Too far from home......29%
• Not enough financial aid......28%
• Heard of the Churchill controversy......66%
• Churchill case affected their decision......18%
ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com
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