Posted on 11/08/2005 11:54:49 AM PST by Bob J
For all appropriate links in this article, visit the original at the link above.
Coming from an academic background, nothing steams my bean so much as a professor misusing his power to try to destroy the incipient career of a PhD student --an offense made even more egregious when such bullying is part of a campaign to punish said student for his political views.
For those of you who havent been following the story as it makes its way around the blogosphere, Info-Theorys Paul Deignan, a PhD student, was the victim of a retaliatory attack by a professor who didnt appreciate Pauls insinuating himself into a blog thread on the leftwing academic blog, Bitch PhD [this being a leftwing site, the administrator has removed the exchange in question; Paul saved it here]. Evidently, Pauls attempt to debate substantively and civilly was regarded as beyond the pale. Notes the good professor in a comment on Pauls blog, Your behavior is highly unprofessional. If the shoe was on the other footif I were disruptive and unprofessional on a right wing site, Id expect to be called on it. But I dont troll conservative academic sites. It would be unprofessional to disrupt their discussions and contrary to the spirit of free enquiryliberal values you seem to be unfamiliar with [my emphasis].
In the world of the academy (in the humanities, in particular), anything that doesnt echo established leftist orthodoxies is considered an attackand not surprisingly, this professor took Pauls criticisms as contrary to the spirit of free enquiry (which, sadly, has been twisted to mean freedom from criticism"). To remedy this, the professor took it upon himself to call Pauls faculty dissertation advisor (at a different school) to let him knowas a professional courtesy, you seeof Pauls alleged poor form (which a review of the evidence will show consisted of nothing more than his arguing his positions quite civilly). This, after calling Paul both a lunatic and homely in an email.
Such is an absolutely unconscionable misuse of power. Further, it as an intentional effort to ruin Pauls academic career. And because it was done explicitly to punish Paul for his social and political views on the legality of abortion (all of this took place in the context of a debate over Alitos nomination), it is intellectual McCarthyism at its most baldfaced and cowardly.
The professors name is Wallace Hettle , who teaches history at the University of Northern Iowa. He claims to be tenured, which evidently (in his mind) means hes reached the exalted position where he can now, without fear of reprisal, wield his position like a cudgeldefending the gates of academia from those whose ideological positions differ from his own.
Wallace Hettle , in my opinion, embodies everything that is wrong with the modern academy. If his behavior over the last several days is any indication, he is doctrinaire and vindictive; and he is an intellectual coward who uses his authority to crush dissent and punish those who dare to voice it. He is meanspirited, and he hides behind the protection of his tenure. People like professor Hettle need to be held to account if we are ever to reclaim the integrity of the humanities departments, overwhelmingly comprised of those who share Hettles ideological bent (though not necessarily his character deficiencies).
Heres the Department of Historys contact information: Department of History - University of Northern Iowa - Seerley 319 - Cedar Falls, IA - 50614 - (319)-273-2097.
Anyone who has a moment to do so, please contact the Departments Chair, Dr Robert F Martin , and let him know of your displeasure. (319) 273-2097
Paul is pursuing legal action. But I think it important that non-academics express their outrage, as well. After all, somebody we know and care about may one day be in the same position as Paul. UNIs President is Robert Koob. His office can be reached here: Office of the President, 20 Seerley Hall, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0705
(319) 273-2566 (voice); (319) 273-6494.
A Yahoo search on this professor + gay has revealed that he has apparently been pushing the gay agenda for years.
http://search.yahoo.com/bin/search?fr=ybr_sbc&p=Wallace%20Hettle%20Gay
I can tell you that it's about to end mine.
I'm a Ph.D. candidate in History as well, and once the profs realize you are a conservative, it's open season on you.
If I shut up and follow the script, I can usually sneak through. But if I happen to disagree and mention my conservative views, these folks come unglued and pounce.
I'm pretty sure I did my self in during a class on Monday.
Try discussing the Arab-Israeli conflict in a class of 13 flaming liberals, one anti-American liberal professor, and you, the lone conservative.
I'm starting to think that maybe education is a bad mistake.
Will we ever know? Will his Phd advisors read this then make it more difficult for him? Will they reject his dissertation based on "other" reasons?
Whether it does or not is not the issue. The issue is we have Nazi like academics using their positions to not only limit dissent but harass and intimidate students into submission and silence.
Like they have been doing for thrity years.
I'll check.
He is the veritable poster boy for the academic "geek." All he needs is a live chicken to bite down on. (I would suggest that he had just decapitated one, but their is no chicken blood on his shirt.)
Wallace does have that 'spaced out' look about him. Maybe he just isn't responsible for what he says.
"Wallace Hettle , in my opinion, embodies everything that is wrong with the modern academy."
Ward Churchill with a degree. I am starting to believe all these academics only need to tote the Marxist line to receive their PHD's.
I sent a note to Students For Academic Freedo.
Funny how often that works out that way, you know?
Good work GD!
These professors will eventually die and hopefully with that Marxist doctrine.
While they are dying, hopefully they will take The Swimmer and Chucky Cheese with them.
History, Political Science, Law, sorry you guys, you are screwed. It seems that you need to either lay low (and suffer)or fight hard (damn the torpedoes and suffer) - there's no middle ground. You are experiencing the real fascisti today. Suppress the students - keep them afraid - What's next - informants?
Isn't amazing when we see something like this and do a Yahoo search on the name of the bad critter + gay. The hits and data re their past writings will often show a very interesting pattern.
As Little Jeremiah and Ernest at the Beach know, I do this when we read some really vile oped against GW. Most of the time the search shows, a long pattern of pushing vile gay agendas. Sometimes the maggot has been an admitted gay for years, and they apparently make their living writing articles pushing the gay agenda.
At the university level in many universities unless a phd is gay or pro gay agenda, they will probably never be hired. Or in cases like this, the left wing professors will try force the conservative phd candidate out of the program.
no, they are making clones of themselves, and making the academic life difficult for anyone who refuses to join their cult.
A few of us swim against the stream, but even guys like me, who generally love a good intellectual fight, eventually get tired of the nonsense.
Imagine if when you went to work, your supervisor refered to you as a Mussolini or an idiot, your co-workers get in a few barbs about your politics and/or religion, your background and beliefs are subject to ridicule, your solid work product is intensely scrutinized and given a B-, while your colleagues are allowed to mimick the party line in a slap-dash paper that recieves an A.
How long would it take you to realize that they don't want you in their club?
Okay, but what about appealing to his advisor and faculty - trying to appeal to their common sense - They are ME's, for Pete's dake!
We also need to shine the light on those who have the greatest potential to harm this gentleman.
As for the "Nazi like academics", I am not adverse to holding (and wielding) a pitchfork and hot tar in the villager mob. Gentlemen - to the castle!
Yep. I think it should be SOP to do such a search on any leftwing moonbat spotted.
Here, let me fix that last line:
I'm starting to think that maybe liberal indoctrination is a bad mistake.
Persevere as long as you can. The country needs more conservatives in academia.
Allah Akbar!
Unholy Alliance :
Radical Islam and the American Left (Hardcover)
by David Horowitz
**************************************
Vastly Illuminating, September 25, 2004
Reviewer: | Kat Bakhu (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews![]() |
<**************************************
Sounds like something a Right Wing (Biology) Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln might do.
Beware.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.