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

[JesseJane]

Yeah. Now get out and stay out.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh...:-)

[FormerACLUmember]

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."

And he retained his teaching job.

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

[RandallFlagg]

In Boulder?

IN BOULDER?!


I'm shocked! SHOCKED, I tell ya!!




/dripping sarcasm

[Cornpone]

He taught ethics!!!????

[donmeaker]

Alas, we have no tradition in the US of seppuku.

[Cosmo]

I defy anyone to show me a professor who likes being department chair. I know I've never met one at UVA.

[Tamar1973]

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."

Why doesn't this poor excuse for an American move to Saudi Arabia? I am sure they have openings for people like himself in one of their fine universities. His heinous views would match nicely in Saudi Arabia's "present political climate."

He should kiss that University President's tuckus every day that he even has a job.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

is this the same guy O'Reilly was on about, or another one? If I remember correctly, he was to speak at some eastern University this week.....

[libs_kma]

University of Colorado and Hamilton College alumni should have been calling for his dismissal anyway.

Good riddance to bad trash.

[The Teen Conservative]

He deserves it. He also deserves to discontinue his professor career or move to Paris and get a nice cushy tenure job there. :)

[OldFriend]

That he will remain as a professor simply reinforces the feeling that this is a university that has lost what little soul it ever had.

The earlier football scandals, this professor.....what next?

[Dane]

This guy should be off the public payroll, IMO.

Although, he probably wouldn't make it one day at a job that produces actual wealth, IMO.

[GW and Twins Pawpaw]

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

[Brian Mosely]

Seppuku requires a sense of duty and honor.

[Dacus943]

"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"

What C*R*A*P!!!

Invite the Grand Wizard of the KKK to speak if you feel free speech is free from CONSIQUENCES.

[drt1]

These people are never held to account. The purported 'Punishment' is probably exactly the opposite - Freeing him to spew his garbage at other places, not having to manage the Department. Meanwhile, he'll pull down full pay and might actually increase his income from speaking fees he otherwise might have had to turn down had he not been so severely 'Punished'

[Texas_Jarhead]

""the present political climate has rendered me a liability in terms of representing either my department, the college, or the university.""

Yea effen jackass that's it. Blame the "present political climate" rather than yourself for the backlash. What a typical left-wing jackass.