Posted on 03/08/2005 4:53:06 AM PST by SJackson
Outgoing University of Colorado President Betsy Hoffman's self-serving and phony warning about "McCarthyism" at CU - in the middle of what should be an impartial investigation of Ward Churchill - was disgraceful.
But if the University of Colorado president needs a genuine case of discrimination at her school, here's one:
CU professor Phil Mitchell's class certainly isn't as melodramatic as our man Ward Churchill's. How could it be?
Surely, it's a complete riot taking one of Churchill's classes.
Deciphering the feckless professor's swirling quasi-intellectual gibberish is entertaining enough as a citizen; I can't imagine how a student feels.
Mitchell never refers to "actions" or "trigger fingers" and seldom calls anyone a Nazi.
Boring stuff.
As an alternative, Mitchell likes to employ facts in his history courses.
He teaches. He doesn't preach.
His reward? After more than 20 years, Mitchell may be out at CU.
Mitchell isn't as alluring as Churchill. He doesn't hold tenure - or a plastic AK-47. Only bachelor's and master's degrees in education, as well as a doctorate in American social history from CU.
He began teaching history in 1984, and in 1998, Mitchell won the prestigious SOAR Award for teacher of the year.
Recently, William Wei, director of the Sewall Academic Program, let Mitchell know that CU would not be renewing his contract after this year because "his teaching was not up to the department standards."
(While Wei confirmed this to me, Joyce Nielsen, associate dean for Social Sciences, denies she gave that reasoning for Mitchell's deal.)
As a conservative, and even worse, a ghastly evangelical Christian, Mitchell wondered how he lasted this long.
"I've had enough. I am clearly being closed out for political or religious reasons," Mitchell says. "I am one of the top-rated professors in the history of the department."
Wei, hardly a conservative, says that in his perspective, "Phil is a great person, a good teacher and highly regarded by his students."
Faculty course questionnaires confirm what students think of him. You'll be hard-pressed to find anything but an A+.
But it's never been easy.
Mitchell taught at the Hallett Diversity Program for 24 straight semesters. That is, until he made the colossal error of actually presenting a (gasp!) diverse opinion, quoting respected conservative black intellectual Thomas Sowell in a discussion about affirmative action.
Sitting 5 feet from a pink triangle that read "Hate-Free Zone," the progressive head of the department berated Mitchell, calling him a racist.
"That would have come as a surprise to my black children," explains Mitchell, who has nine kids, as of last count, two of them adopted African-Americans.
Then, Mitchell had the audacity to use a book on liberal Protestantism in the late 19th century. So repulsed by the word "god" was one student, she complained, and the department chair fired him without a meeting, he said.
Was there a protest for academic freedom? Bullhorns? Power to the people?
Conceivably, if Mitchell would have used a less-offensive book - say the Churchill classic "Perversions of Justice" (Ward's hobby?) - he could have rallied the Kool-Aid brigade lickety split.
In time, Mitchell was reinstated but was never able to teach in the history department again.
"People say liberals run the university. I wish they did," Mitchell says. "Most liberals understand the need for intellectual diversity. It's the radical left that kills you."
So Churchill may play the part, but Mitchell is the true dissenter at CU.
Why did he stay this long?
"I stay to create enthusiasm and love for history," Mitchell says. " And I am successful at that. I love the classroom, and I love my students."
Once, president Hoffman promised increased intellectual diversity at CU - not a purge of conservatives.
Another promise broken.
Yet another reason to boycott CU and watch it dry up and blow away...
Needs to be pointed out more often. The radical left killed off most of the liberals over the last 30 years.
A large number of liberals believe most of what the radical left says. What's the real difference.
"That would have come as a surprise to my black children," explains Mitchell, who has nine kids, as of last count, two of them adopted African-Americans.
Get your kids OUT of CU. NOW. YESTERDAY.
^
"What's the real difference."
One's a commie, the other is the doormat. My policy is to keep both outside.
I wouldn't conclude that is true. First, I don't think there is a liberal "ideology" anymore. You can't really point to liberal organizations. The radicals have siezed all of the old liberal opinion making aparatus --- the major newspapers, the democrat party (MoveOn.org), and the universities as we see in this article. There are very few promonent liberal politicians still holding office at least on the national level. Joe Liberman is probably the best known and the radicals are now targeting him.
ping
Great post. Thanks.
I guess it's not a Hate Free Zone as long as you hate the right people.
And this surprises who ???????
Because we all know that every conservative parent checks out every potential class and potential prof for every college their children wish to attend. Give me a break. The schools put out "sunshine up your butt" propaganda which makes Churchill sound like the second coming. There are very few places to find out the info which you describe.
I know more than a few of those employers, all of whom will be getting emails from me, relating this article. It will be my PLEASURE.
From the article: He began teaching history in 1984, and in 1998, Mitchell won the prestigious SOAR Award for teacher of the year.
Recently, William Wei, director of the Sewall Academic Program, let Mitchell know that CU would not be renewing his contract after this year because "his teaching was not up to the department standards."
CU has gone WAY beyond decency, and is showing itself to be a true, disgraceful drag on the state, as well as an unfortunate embarrassment to its alums. Thank you for this post, SJackson.
Bump -
There are few people attending this school for an education. It is a joke but has good parties and lotsa fun. That is the only reason it is there.
This underscores my (and David Horowitz's) contention that we need to stop using the word "liberal" so... well, liberally. I should be "liberal" with my charity, my concern for others, my praise for my family members, etc.
These people are LEFTISTS, not liberals. They hate the U.S. because it stands in direct opposition to their desire for Marxism, totalitarianism, perversity, anti-religiosity and against every other good thing we hold dear in this nation.
So... repeat after me:
Ted Kennedy is a Leftist.
Ward Churchill is a Leftist.
Dan Rather is a Leftist.
Harry Reid is a Leftist.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a Leftist.
(Fill in the blank) is a Leftist.
Excellent! Move to the head of the class and keep up the good work!
Ha, unbelievable, this whole thing. Let's fire a teacher for saying - GASP - God, but let's keep the fake-Indian plagiarist who calls 911 victims Nazis.
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