Posted on 03/27/2004 4:25:08 PM PST by chance33_98
Feds Investigate 'Hate Speech' Incident at UNC-Chapel Hill
By The Associated Press
Federal authorities are investigating UNC-Chapel Hill after a February incident in which an English instructor singled out a conservative student for "hate speech." The probe will analyze whether the teacher's actions amounted to harassment and whether the school reacted appropriately.
A letter from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced the decision last week. Education department spokesman Rodger Murphey says several people filed complaints about the incident with his department.
School faculty members passed a resolution Friday committing themselves to principles of "intellectual independence, nondiscrimination on the basis of, among others, race, sex and sexual orientation, free speech and expression."
It also said political affiliation should play no part in hiring faculty. Conservative students at the school recently have lamented that Democrats dominate academia.
The incident resulted from an exchange last month in an English class during which a student said he opposed homosexuality. Instructor Elyse Crystall sent an e-mail message Feb. 6 to students in the class criticizing the student.
"What we heard Thursday at the end of class constitutes 'hate speech' and is completely unacceptable. it has created a hostile environment," she wrote.
She referred to the student by name, calling him "a white, heterosexual, christian male" who "can feel entitled to make violent, heterosexist comments and not feel marked or threatened or vulnerable."
Crystall apologized to the class Monday in another e-mail, saying her earlier message "crossed a line and inhibited free discussion."
University officials said they were monitoring the class to ensure students' free speech.
The Office for Civil Rights asked UNC-CH to provide documents about the incident and its handling, including a roster of students, course materials, messages posted to the class discussion forum and a list of any similar matters or complaints about campus discrimination based on race or sex.
My little girl has been at Chapel Hill for six years now, pursuing a doctorate. She's worked there as an instructor for a number of classes, and has actually encountered situations where she hasn't been allowed to give a failing grade to students caught red-handed at cheating.
The problem with the whole concept of "hate speech" is and it's raison d'etre/I> is to force any debate to confine itself to a "politically correct" viewpoint. It's to close off an open "Marketplace of Ideas." Anyone who says differently is a liar or so delusional they have no business teaching!.
It's obvious that this person, who wedged the complain, has her own problems with bigotry, ... and all those thing's that these idiot's claim as their reasoning for why such things should be banned. I wonder what her problem with "a white, heterosexual, christian male" is? Duh!
Wait till scientists annouce that they have discovered a gene that causes homophobia!
No, this is legit. I filed the compliant with DOE, as a taxpayer of NC. Turns out so did others, which, when that happens, gives DOE more leaway, scope and power into an investigation. So they combied all the complaits (minum of 2 maximum of x). Last they talked to me, they were unsure as to if they would begin an investigation - but I could tell from the tone of the voice they were pissed. The very first call back - and the DOE investigator noted he already knew the students name (never release). So he had to force that from the English Chair.
This Dep't is in deep s**t now because of the emberrasment, not to mention time and money for UNC lawyers, etc.
Gotta, say, they (DOE) were very professional and called me 3-4 times for further info and to update me.
What may have pushed this over the edge is the complaint alledges (also) that the same Dep't gulty of the infraction is the same one 'investigating' it. Lastly, DOE has no jursidiction oover religeous descrimintation (the 'Christian' crack; but will review the racial / male comments comments, the threats, and the racist English Dep't cover up of this incident.
At the end of the day, UNC will most likely have to sign off on some processes to insure their racist behavior is put in check. Which must kill them to, have been called on the carpet by DOE, and to have to carry the stigma amd record of an investigation, from now on.
At Chapel Hill? Doubtful. I work with a young lady that graduated last year from there. Absolutely the most dense human being I have ever met. I try not to carry on a discussion within earshot of her. She'll jump in and every response is textbook liberal speak. And the common sense of a 10th grader. I honestly hope she doesn't truly believe half of what she says.
Carrboro Community College ping!!!
Yup. And when we're all gone, you'll have another 3rd world country.
My son got his PhD (physics) at ASU. He said the professors were a living liberal hell. He almost quit on his PhD and I talked him into sticking with it because he was so close to completion.
Good grief, that's not an apology for her action(s). It is a explaination -- in the guise of an apology -- for having "crossed a line and inhibited free discussion." IOW, for having been caught.
Excellent! Bravo for you.
E-mail sparks federal probe (UNC-CH, update to previous thread)
MKM
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