Posted on 08/27/2006 6:11:13 AM PDT by billorites
A tenured professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire believes an "elite" group within the federal government orchestrated the September 11th attacks on America.
William Woodward has already raised that possibility in his classroom and later this year hopes to teach a class that would explore Sept. 11th "in psychological terms -- terms like belief, conspiracy, fear, truth, courage, group dynamics."
He may not get the chance. Several state leaders yesterday criticized Woodward for bringing the radical theories into the classroom.
"In my view, there are limitations to academic freedom and freedom of speech," said U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H.
"I believe it is inappropriate for someone at a public university which is supported with taxpayer dollars to take positions that are generally an affront to the sensibility of most all Americans," Gregg said.
Others were equally blunt.
New Hampshire Senate President Ted Gatsas, R-Manchester, a UNH alum, said, "I would think the board of trustees and the acting president (of UNH) would take a long, hard look at someone who advocates that kind of nonsense."
Sen. Jack Barnes, R-Raymond, said he's embarrassed the professor works at his alma mater.
"I compare this guy with the idiots out there who say the Holocaust never occurred," Barnes said.
"Maybe we'd better check the UNH budget very closely next year if they have guys like that teaching our kids," Barnes said.
Woodward, an acknowledged member of several leftwing political action groups, belongs to the Scholars for 9/11 Truth.
The group contends that "pods" attached to the jet airliners actually steered planes into the Twin Towers and explosives planted inside the buildings were then set off.
The group also has advanced various conspiracy theories about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The 9/11 Commission that investigated the terrorist attacks concluded 19 young Arabs acting at the behest of Islamic extremists based in Afghanistan were responsible.
Woodward told the Sunday News he's convinced "there was a genuine conspiracy on the part of insiders at the highest level of our government."
But in last week's interview, the Yale-educated professor said, "I am very careful about what I offer to students.
"I just can't come across as having one strong position, even though in my heart I do."
Woodward said he did raise the topic in his political psychology class last spring semester, after showing the film "The Great Deception," He offered the film "as a different perspective than you see in the mainstream."
One of the students in Woodward's political psychology class where the topic came up was Zack Bazzi, a UNH psychology major and National Guardsman who served in Iraq.
Bazzi said it was common for Woodward to share "different versions of different events in history" in the upper-level course. "He certainly doesn't try to indoctrinate the kids," he said. "He just puts it out there."
"Do I agree with it? No. The overwhelming majority of the facts obviously show that 9/11 was a terrorist act conducted by terrorists from Middle Eastern backgrounds."
Bazzi said Woodward was "systematically careful" when he shared his own, often controversial, views on any topic. "I will stress he would always present this as his opinion, and he'll acknowledge it's controversial, he'll acknowledge a lot of people think he's out there. Then he'll present it and move on."
What did Woodward say about Sept. 11th? "From my recollection, he said the government's theory on it is wrong and it's flawed and he thinks there are alternative theories to be explored," Bazzi said. "From my recollection, not one person in the class agreed with him."
Woodward said he hopes to develop a course that would explore Sept. 11th in psychological terms. But because of the sensitive nature of the topic, he would seek guidance from his department chairman and his dean before he proceeds.
Embracing such conspiracy theories about Sept. 11th is not constructive for Americans who face a immediate threat from terrorists "who want to kill Americans because they don't like us," Gregg said.
"It is insensitive, inappropriate and inexcusable to make such statements," he said, "and not far from making racist statements and using hate statements."
Sen. Barnes said, "He has got the right to say what he wants, but he is so full of baloney."
Gatsas said he does not believe the Legislature would be mean-spirited enough to punish the university through next year's budget. But he said, "People from New Hampshire died in that event. It's important to preserve their memory. This kind of thing is uncalled for."
Woodward doesn't hide his political views; he's a member of New Hampshire Peace Action and several Seacoast groups that plan anti-war activities and question the official story surrounding Sept. 11th. And he is currently awaiting trial for criminal trespassing, after he and five others who call themselves "the Dover Six" were arrested during a May sit-in at U.S. Rep. Jeb Bradley's office to protest the Iraq war.
His Quaker tradition, Woodward said, compels him to "speak truth to power."
"I know there could be consequences, but if only more people would speak out, then we would have a safer world," he said. "We need to be vigilant."
Former Gov. Walter Peterson, a University System of New Hampshire trustee, said the professor, who has tenure protection, should not be fired.
According to the American Association of University Professors' policy on academic tenure, a tenured professor can be terminated only for "adequate cause."
"I don't think trustees should be trying to influence professors and what they say, but if it gets too bizarre, the division director or dean or, probably more appropriately, the chairman of the department, should have a chat with him," Peterson said.
As for Woodward's views on 9/11, Peterson said, "The most effective tactic is to laugh it off. That's crazy.
"If a person can back that up with evidence and have a sound academic reason, that's one thing," he said. "It sounds pretty far-fetched for me."
Bazzi said professors like Woodward should not be censored for exposing students to radical ideas. "It's America. It's a free country."
"He has the right to say his opinion but we have the right to disagree with it."
And academic freedom is even more important at a publicly funded school like UNH, "where most of us regular folks go that can't afford to go to private schools," Bazzi said.
If you remove a professor such as Woodward for his controversial views on Sept 11th, he asked, "Where do you draw the line? It's a slippery slope. Somebody's going to be offended by what another scholar says."
Just another Churchill. Idiot mooncricket type. Feckless crapweasel.
And unfortunately it looks like this guy has plenty of company...
"A tenured professor of psychology at the University of New Hampshire believes an "elite" group within the federal government orchestrated the September 11th attacks on America."
Do we need any more reasons to do away with tenure?
This is a really, really stupid remark by a guy who's not usually that dumb.
What should be taught at a University, Senator Gregg, is what is true and good.
What is true and good has nothing to do with "the sensibility of most Americans", except insofar as they have been raised in a culture that exalts the truth and goodness.
The reason this fool should be dismissed is because he is teaching lies, not because people agree with him, or don't.
The group contends that "pods" attached to the jet airliners actually steered planes into the Twin Towers and explosives planted inside the buildings were then set off.
There's another thread about bad movies going on right now; this sounds like a plot line that only Ed Wood or Michael Moore could do justice to.
Apparently universities do not put moonbat clauses into employment contracts for tenure, so they have to find other reasons to terminate people like this.
And I am SO sure his "dean and department chair" will provide great "guidance"...not!
It would be funny is there weren't so many nutjobs out there on the left pushing this insane "theory".
I must, once again, recommend Horowitz's excellent book "The Professors". Most don't know just how bad the academic community IS. I knew, because I am IN it- I just hope everyone else learns it too.
To believe that there are groups manipulating all that occurs and it is beyond your power to control is a grand scheme to blame others for what is wrong. It is a way of escaping your own responsibility for things. It is a mindset that says there are grand forces at work and I cannot be responsible for what happens.
In other words, it is at the root of all Leftist dreams
Scholars for 9/11 Truth JOIN US
I love the fine print.
I especially liked:
"Membership is a privilege, not a right. Should either of the chairs conclude that an individual's participation tends to undermine the objectives of the society, that person's membership may be suspended and she may no longer access the forum or be identified with Scholars of 9/11 Truth."
Teaching is a "right", Academic Freedom is a "right", and tenure is also a "right", but only FOR them, from a university; not from them, for their members.
Oh, Hypocrisy, how dost thou spelleth thy name? Mayhap, M.O.O.N.B.A.T.?
"What should be taught at a University, Senator Gregg, is what is true and good.
Well, anyone can claim what he believes is good and true, and most people do make this claim with regard to their beliefs.
So who is to be the arbiter?
This part was interesting. The following regards Able Danger and is part of the Lou Dobbs interview with Curt Weldon.
[DOBBS: And to be clear, the suggestion is that the Pentagon stopped Able Danger from sharing that information with the FBI or any other agency that might have acted, is that correct?
WELDON: Absolutely. It was September of 2000 when it was stopped.
DOBBS: Now, the 9/11 Commission at first denied that Able Danger existed, that they had been told anything about this. That was the first remark from Lee Hamilton. It was the first response from the staff. Subsequently it turned out that, yes, they had heard about Able Danger on two occasions.
How do you feel about the commission and its reaction to Able Danger and the allegations that have been made? WELDON: Well, Lou, I supported the commission when it was established. I know some of the commissioners. I'm convinced that commissioners themselves were never briefed.
But what I have found out is Scott Philpott, an Annapolis grad, voluntarily went in and briefed a 9/11 Commission staffer in July of 2004, told the 9/11 Commission staffer about Able Danger. That 9/11 Commission staffer made a decision not to brief the commissioners. That 9/11 Commission staffer was working for Jamie Gorelick, who was a member of the commission who wrote the famous memo that said they could not transfer information between the military and the FBI.
DOBBS: The so-called wall.
WELDON: Yes.]
Not Pontius Pilate...
Read my tagline...
Just more of our tax dollars at work.
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