Professor Resigns as Department Chair Amid Furor Over 9/11 Remarks

AP ^ | 1/31/05 | The Associated Press

[Jean S]

DENVER (AP) - A University of Colorado professor who provoked a furor when he compared victims of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks to Nazis resigned as a department chairman Monday but will retain his teaching job, the university said.

In an essay written after the Sept. 11 attacks, Ward Churchill said the World Trade Center victims were "little Eichmanns," a reference to Adolf Eichmann, who organized Nazi plans to exterminate Europe's Jews. Churchill also spoke of the "gallant sacrifices" of the "combat teams" that struck America.

The essay attracted little attention until Churchill was invited recently to speak at Hamilton College, about 40 miles east of Syracuse, N.Y. Hundreds of relatives of Sept. 11 victims have protested the appearance. Hamilton College President Joan Hinde has said that "however repugnant one might find Mr. Churchill's remarks," the college was committed to his right of free speech and would not rescind its invitation.

Administrators have moved Churchill's appearance to a building that can seat 2,000, instead of the originally planned 300.

Churchill resigned as chairman of Colorado's Ethnic Studies Department, telling university officials in a letter that "the present political climate has rendered me a liability in terms of representing either my department, the college, or the university."

University officials welcomed the move.

"While Professor Churchill has the constitutional right to express his political views, his essay on 9/11 has outraged and appalled us and the general public," interim CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano said.

AP-ES-01-31-05 1903EST

[No Surrender No Retreat]

I would have loved to give him some of my eithics, a size 11 combat boot up his rear-end. I irks me to let a (POS) who has tenure to continue to receive a pay-check. NSNR

[Rodney King]

thanks.

[Barney59]

Too bad they left him in the classroom, that's where he does the most damage... who cares about his board appointment when you factor his preaching to our kids on a daily basis...

[ken21]

"department of racist studies against whites"

would be a better title.

[DoctorMichael]

Being discussed on O'Reilly now.

[Cornpone]

Thanks. You know, I just couldn't get this out of my mind. I think when I was in college they were just starting something called Afro-American studies. I guess that was the start of what they now call ethnic studies. I guess my question is why in the hell we don't just call it the Department of Why Everyone Should Hate America Studies? I don't know why these kids can't do what I did when I wanted to find out more about my cultural heritage beyond what is really historically significant...go buy a book. School is about education, not entertainment. What's even worse, with certain exceptions, there aren't any kids in this country whose parent didn't want to be, or want them to be, here. A lot of people died just making the trip. Their parents would probably be horrified if they knew what they were being taught. Thanks again and please excuse my venting.

[ken21]

the odd thing:

churchill's only got an m.a.

no ph.d.


Ward Churchill
Professor
B.A., M.A., Sangamon State University

[Rockpile]

"Ward Churchill (Keetoowah Band Cherokee) is one of the most outspoken of Native American activists. In his lectures and numerous published works, he explores the themes of genocide in the Americas, historical and legal (re)interpretation of conquest and colonization, literary and cinematic criticism, and indigenist alternatives to the status quo. Churchill is a Professor of Ethnic Studies and Coordinator of American Indian Studies. He is also a past national spokesperson for the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee. His books include Agents of Repression, Fantasies of the Master Race, From a Native Son and A Little Matter of Genocide: Holocaust and Denial in the Americas."

[Anti-Bubba182]

Yes this is the same guy O'Reilly was talking about.

[AZ_Cowboy]

This is not a sufficient reaming. The real beef should be with the fact that the left continues to use Nazi labels against us without getting slapped silly for it. If people actually studied Hitler and his ideology, it becomes extremely apparent that Nazism and to some extent fascism in general are watered-down versions of the Marxist/socialist ideology. No less than C.S. Lewis pointed this out. We shouldn't let them get away with this smear label.

That aside, anyone who said the killings of the 9/11 victims were justified ought to face the consequences. Words cannot be called back. The only pity is that the man was not terminated from his job altogether. He can say whatever he wants, but doing so with University backing is bad PR for the University, even if it is in Boulder.

[drt1]

OK. I have a kid that's a Senior in college and, if she ever actually graduates, will be competent to do nothing but pursue 'Celebrity'. A lot of the curriculum consisted of mandatory courses in Ethnic Studies, Multiculturalism, a Foreign Language requirement, etc. Of course upon graduation she won't be able to balance a checkbook but, hey, she won't have a job to make that a necessity! A real mess! Please excuse My vent.

[buccaneer81]

What's a 'seppuku'? Maybe it's like ritual suicide for an egregous social blunder?

Ritual suicide to maintain the honor of a Samurai.

[plangent]

Churchill resigned as chairman of Colorado's Ethnic Studies Department, telling university officials in a letter that "the present political climate has rendered me a liability in terms of representing either my department, the college, or the university." University officials welcomed the move.

Duplicitous University. If they accept his reason, he should have NO position, including a teaching one, where he represents the University. UC at Boulder needs to understand logic.

[MainFrame65]

This bigoted bastard (NOTE: this is not profanity. What this idiot actually said IS profanity) needs a picket outside his classroom and outside his office every day until he resigns.

[Cultural Jihad]

"While Professor Churchill has the constitutional right to express his political views, his essay on 9/11 has outraged and appalled us and the general public," interim CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano said.

Neither is there a Constitutional right to tenure.

[DoctorMichael]

All his piks on the university website have been removed. This is stuff I found...................

.....in good company here with Chomsky.

Real radical, man.

Interview: http://www.satyamag.com/apr04/churchill.html

[muir_redwoods]

"He should have been strung up."

He should simply have given a lecture at a NYC firehouse, with the police there to ensure good order. And the Port Authority police too. Just in case.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Well, that guy never had any honor so that's out!

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

AIM??? Doesn't that stand for A--holes In Moccassins?

---

Perhaps. Or also:
http://www.aim.org/

[CFC__VRWC]

Yes, our tax dollars will continue to pay this shining intellect to indoctrinate our children.

And he'll be trotted out before all the media outlets and at ANSWER rallies as an example of "what happens when people speak out against the Bush regime."