Workplace Blog

Inside Higher Ed:

The American Civil Liberties Union and its Colorado chapter have jointly written the University of Colorado Board of Regents, urging it not to fire Ward Churchill. The board meets tomorrow and is expected to fire the controversial ethnic studies professor over allegations of research misconduct, which he denies. Churchill maintains that he is being forced out because of his controversial writings about 9/11 and other topics. The ACLU letter acknowledged that Churchill’s job is endangered, technically, because of the findings of misconduct. But the ACLU said that the inquiry took place in a “poisoned atmosphere” in which his 9/11 comments led many politicians to seek his ouster. “The investigation of Professor Churchill’s scholarship cannot be separated from the indefensible lynch-mob furor that generated the initial calls for his termination,” the ACLU wrote. “Firing Professor Churchill in these circumstances does not sent a message about academic rigor and standards of professional integrity. On the contrary, it sends a warning to the academic community that politically unpopular dissenters speak out at their peril.”

CommonDreams.org: University of Colorado Set To Fire Ward Churchill
by Ira Chernus

On Tuesday, July 24, the University of Colorado Board of Regents will decide whether to accept the recommendation of CU President (and former Republican senator) Hank Brown, and fire CU Professor Ward Churchill. It’s not likely that Brown, one of the shrewdest (and most conservative) politicians Colorado has produced, would recommend the firing unless he was already sure the Regents would back him up. So it’s a very good bet that the Regents will indeed give Churchill the axe. The only thing that might change their minds is an outpouring of public opinion supporting a professor’s right to voice unpopular views.

The Regents’ decision is not merely a local affair. It has enormous impact on the whole country. That gives you the right — and the responsibility — to let them know what you think. The chair of the University of Colorado Board of Regents is Patricia Hayes. You can write to her at: Patricia.Hayes@cu.edu.

Why should you bother? It’s still a rare occasion when a tenured professor is fired because he is an outspoken leftist. But every time a witchhunt is successful, it encourages other right-wingers to go after their favorite target. It brings the next witchhunt closer and increases the odds that it will succeed.