Posted on 09/01/2006 10:48:36 AM PDT by freespirited
The University of Colorado Student Union has passed a resolution supporting the university administration's decision to fire controversial ethnic studies professor Ward Churchill.
In early 2005, Churchill became embroiled in controversy over an essay calling some Sept. 11 victims “technocrats” and comparing them to an infamous architect of Nazi policy.
Later that year, CU formed an investigative committee to examine allegations of research misconduct against Churchill. In spring, the committee announced findings that Churchill plagiarized some of his work.
Two months ago, interim CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano announced his intention to fire the tenured professor.
By passing a resolution late last Thursday night backing DiStefano's decision, CU's student government cast the “official” student voice on the hot-button issue.
“We discussed whether it was appropriate or not to do it at the time when school was not in session,” said Representative Council member Jessica Langfeldt, who supports the resolution, “but we are elected representatives and we thought we are doing what is best.”
The resolution passed by a narrow vote of nine to seven, with one abstention.
Student government leaders debated the resolution for one hour before casting votes. Three members of the public argued against it during an open hearing.
“there were some people who were concerned with accepting the investigation because of how it might have started,” said Sen. Anthony Morfa of the Graduate School, who co-authored the resolution. “But, I think that everyone agreed that research misconduct is not acceptable on any level.”
The resolution also states that CU should not change its policy around awarding tenure.
“Nobody voting on this resolution wants to see a ‘chilling effect' on research,” said Morfa, a chemistry doctoral student.
Rep. Scott McEachron said he voted for the resolution because of “the importance of plagiarism.”
“CU holds its students to a certain standard, we have an Honor Code, and we have to hold our professors to that same standard,” said McEachron.
Rep. Windy Alarcon voted against it, saying it could have been “re-worded a little better.”
“I don't think we should have been so focused on him - ‘Ward Churchill, Ward Churchill, Ward Churchill',” said Alarcon, “but more as ‘we at CU are against plagiarism and academic dishonesty.'”
UCSU Tri-Executives Charles Johnson and Andy Aitchison plan on signing the resolution, said Johnson.
“We believe very strongly in the academic integrity of our institution,” said Johnson, “and as importantly, we also believe that there should be no changes made to tenure based on the Ward Churchill case, which the resolution also states.”
Churchill could not be reached for comment.
Eight of 17 were not in favor of firing him. Pretty darn sad.
Given that college students were involved, I actually thought the proposal was to retroactively fire Winston Churchill - in line with Pelosi's call to fire Rumsfeld!
Calling the ACLU!!
He found a idiot market, and milked it for alot of money.
The left, is one of those groups that will pay you good money to tell them what they want to hear.
This guy, knew that, and got paid doing it.
This fraud still has a job?
Well, he got his fifteen minutes of fame.
Buh-bye.
He's not fired yet?
That's what I wondered.
What's taking so long?
But was the resolution SIGNED by the requisite student government executives, after it was passed last week?
My understanding is that it needs at least two out of three signatures to become effective.
UCSU Tri-Executives Charles Johnson and Andy Aitchison plan on signing the resolution, said Johnson.
It was right there in black & white, had you bothered to open your eyes, instead of your fat yap!
Considering that the student government is usually activist types this is not surprising, plus typically 90+ percent of the student body couldn't give a rat's rear end over what the student government does or doesn't do.
OMGosh, I thought another freeper was responding to you! Whew! Glad it was just yourself. Now quit calling yourself names.
$10 says he's still there a year from now.
That was nothing; you should(n't) hear what I have to say to myself when I smack my thumb with a hammer!
Fire Ward Churchill and hire David Yeagley!
.
I don't know. But I do know that this is academia. Maybe it has been referred to the committee on committees.
As a student, if I did what he did, I would be kicked out of school immediately. Do not pass GO, do not receive any grade other than 'F' in all classes.
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