Liberal Iowa Professor Tries to Ruin Career of Conservative Phd Student..for disagreeing with him

Protein Wisdom ^ | 11-7-05 | Jeff Goldstien

[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 haven’t been following the story as it makes its way around the blogosphere, Info-Theory’s Paul Deignan, a PhD student, was the victim of a “retaliatory” attack by a professor who didn’t appreciate Paul’s 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, Paul’s attempt to debate substantively and civilly was regarded as beyond the pale. Notes the good professor in a comment on Paul’s blog, “Your behavior is highly unprofessional. If the shoe was on the other foot—if I were disruptive and unprofessional on a right wing site, I’d expect to be called on it. But I don’t troll conservative academic sites. It would be unprofessional to disrupt their discussions and contrary to the spirit of free enquiry—liberal values you seem to be unfamiliar with” [my emphasis].

In the world of the academy (in the humanities, in particular), anything that doesn’t echo established leftist orthodoxies is considered an “attack”—and not surprisingly, this professor took Paul’s 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 Paul’s faculty dissertation advisor (at a different school) to let him know—as a professional courtesy, you see—of Paul’s 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 Paul’s 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 Alito’s nomination), it is intellectual McCarthyism at its most baldfaced and cowardly.

The professor’s name is Wallace Hettle , who teaches history at the University of Northern Iowa. He claims to be tenured, which evidently (in his mind) means he’s reached the exalted position where he can now, without fear of reprisal, wield his position like a cudgel—defending 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 Hettle’s ideological bent (though not necessarily his character deficiencies).

Here’s the Department of History’s 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 Department’s 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. UNI’s 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.

[ncountylee]

Wallace A Hettle More Info

History, Assoc Professor

(319) 273-2942

wallace.hettle@uni.edu

Mail Code: 0701

[Kirkwood]

Wallace Hettle

[Bob J]

Thanks.

[Puppage]

I remember when college was THE place for honest, informative debate. It was encouraged.

Ahhhh, the good old days. (early 1980's)

[martin gibson]

Wallace Hettle; The Pig...

[Bob J]

And here is the eddress for Hettle's department chair...he needs to get some FReepin.

Robert.Martin@uni.edu

[Dead Dog]

You'll probably want the Admin to pull that post. Undestandable sentiment, but not something you want tied to your name in anyway.

[Bob J]

Let's settle for getting him fired.

[savedbygrace]

The thread as a PDF:

http://www.ada-vs.com/leftResponds.pdf

[Tzimisce]

You misunderstand,

I'm sure this was all done in the name of open minded tolerance and acceptance. Have you ever been on a college campus? You'd be stunned to see what the lectures in say a math class deal with: like voting for John Kerry. I don't know what this has to do with Calculus, but they do it anyway. Even when you're not in class, you can expect email from your professors to keep you in the know about lefty causes.

When they take something down, it's all in the name of good taste and professionalism. To call it censorship is wrong. Just cause they're filtering information is irrelevant. That's why they're in the halls of academia and you wallow in filth.

There is no such thing as an abuse of power at colleges and universities. They're thinking about the little people like you. So stop trying to reign them in and let them get back to the work of the American people.

[thoughtomator]

Hey I can hope bad things happen to him without advocating that someone force it.

[Freedom_Fighter_2001]

Bob,

Is there any proof that this goof has had any effect on the young man's career?

[Dead Dog]

True, I just don't want to give MN4BUSH flavored losers ammunition.

[MplsSteve]

Yep, that's when I was the Univ of Minnesota - the early to mid 80's.

The Political Science Dept was considered left of center - but many of the profs (and grad assistants) were academically honest.

I truly felt that I was receiving an education (and not an indocrination) when I was there.

How things have changed. I went back to the U about 3 years ago to get my BA. The Political Science Dept has made a hard lurch to the left.

It's reflected in the courses taught and in the bios and academic works of the current crop of professors.

I recently told the Political Science Dept to remove me from their mailing lists as there was no way I'd even think of donating towards a scholarship or Endowed Chair.

[TChris]

Is David Horowitz and his organization aware of this?

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

They would have to fire the vast majority of liberal professors in the country
if this type of hazing were to be investigated thoroughly.

[TAdams8591]

"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."

Despicable.

[Puppage]

It's a crying shame, isn't it?