Posted on 03/09/2005 6:35:09 AM PST by xzins
BRAVE NEW SCHOOLS
Colorado to dump Christian prof
Popular award-winner claims political, religious reasons
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Posted: March 9, 2005 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
While University of Colorado officials defend controversial professor Ward Churchill in the name of free speech, an evangelical Christian professor at the school claims he's about to be dismissed for religious or political reasons.
Professor Phil Mitchell, who has a doctorate in American social history from the university, says he recently was informed his contract would not be renewed after this year because "his teaching was not up to the department standards," according to Denver Post columnist David Harsanyi.
Mitchell, winner in 1998 of the prestigious SOAR Award for teacher of the year, told the columnist he has wondered how long he would last.
"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."
A colleague, William Wei, described by Harsanyi as "hardly a conservative," said, "Phil is a great person, a good teacher and highly regarded by his students."
Harsanyi said Mitchell, who has taught at the Hallett Diversity Program for 24 straight semesters, upset the head of the department by presenting a diverse opinion.
After quoting respected black intellectual Thomas Sowell in a discussion about affirmative action, Mitchell was berated as a racist.
"That would have come as a surprise to my black children," said Mitchell, who has nine children, two of them adopted African-Americans.
Then, says Harsanyi, the professor used a book on liberal Protestantism in the late 19th century.
Harsanyi writes: "So repulsed by the word 'god' was one student, she complained, and the department chair fired him without a meeting."
The columnist points out that unlike Churchill's case, there was no protest by faculty and students.
Mitchell later was reinstated, Harsanyi said, but never was able to teach in the history department again.
"People say liberals run the university. I wish they did," Mitchell told the Denver columnist. "Most liberals understand the need for intellectual diversity. It's the radical left that kills you."
Mitchell said he has stuck it out this long "to create enthusiasm and love for history. And I am successful at that. I love the classroom, and I love my students."
Controversy erupted around Churchill last month, when one of his essays made it into the national spotlight.
Written shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks, it describes the thousands of American victims who died in the World Trade Center inferno as "little Eichmanns" – a reference to notorious Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann – who were perpetuating America's "mighty engine of profit." They were destroyed, he added, thanks to the "gallant sacrifices" of "combat teams" that successfully targeted the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon.
Churchill resigned his position as head of the Colorado University ethnic studies program but kept his $96,000 per year teaching post. He steadfastly has refused to apologize for his comments.
He's also come under fire for claiming an American Indian heritage, training terrorists, and meeting with Libya's Moammar Gadhafi in the 1980s when the U.S. had banned travel there.
In addition, he's accused of writing essays with passages "almost identical" to those of other authors and of copying an original art piece and claiming it as his own.
The University of Colorado Regents is probing whether Churchill has violated tenure and expects to announce a decision this month.
Incredible, but unfortunately, all too believable.
Sarcasm Alert! Nice scholarly atmosphere!
Based on the facts, it seems that there is no question that it was political. He says that they told him he was not up to department standards because he quoted black conservative, Thomas Sowell, in his class. The other reason they gave was that he was too overtly Christian in his classroom.
Both of those reasons are ridiculous. This is a university. If you don't like his class, then don't take it.
Apparently, there are a lot of folks who do, though. If I were this guy, though, I would only demand compensation for the university's misconduct. Afterall, he's been there for 20 years, so he doesn't want to forfeit his retirement by just walking away. On the other hand, I think I'd look for a job at a different institution that had greater appreciation for my skills. There are almost certainly a lot of schools that would want to have him on staff. Afterall, he has 20 years of experience, and he has won many accolades over the years.
This is the part that really jumped out at me.
They obviously were gunning for this guy. No one gets fired just like that.
There is no question U of C is badly confused as to what their standard of education should be.
Wonder how long it will take for CU to hit bottom ?
Something very eerie about the goings on at CU. First the president of the university resigns - perhaps she was "for" getting rid of Ward Churchill? Then this professor who is obviously not a Churchill type. And, yet, Churchill remains. What are they trying to create out there?
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Quoting Sowell got him berated as a racist of all things. He was able to show his adopted African-American kids and demonstrate that accusation to be bunk.
He actually sounds like a pretty balanced guy.
pingomai
Word needs to be put out the more or less conservative alumni associations, the folks these radical academic parasites go to when they need contributions.
If you can only hire sex-crazed football players, phony native americans, and heat sensitive presidents, then I wonder what kind of "christian" would make on their illustrious staff??
Ping
O MY!
(Lions & Tigers & BearsOmai)
:>)
Radical liberal demoncrats - double standard as always - Dont let anyone fool ya - Diversity means hatred of the white (expecially Christian) male. When companies say the value diversity what they mean is that they promote minorities over white males and that they have an HR dept filled with racists.
Radical liberal demoncrats - double standard as always - Dont let anyone fool ya - Diversity means hatred of the white (expecially Christian) male. When companies say the value diversity what they mean is that they promote minorities over white males and that they have an HR dept filled with racists.
BTW, the CU College Republicans are holding a "GOOD RIDDANCE" rally today in soon-to-be-ex-president Betsy Hoffman's honor. LOL
Sue the #@&%#@&s!!! That's what the Left would do. Then take the money and decline the offer to remain on this faculty that has clearly lost their faculties.
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