St. Xavier professor suspended for e-mail to cadet (Anti-war prof gets rest of year off)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | November 18, 2002 | BRYAN SMITH STAFF REPORTER

[Chi-townChief]

A St. Xavier University professor who called an Air Force cadet a "disgrace to this country" and a "baby-killer" has been suspended from teaching for the rest of the semester and his academic and teaching record will be reviewed, the university said.

Peter Kirstein, a tenured history and political science professor, already had apologized for sending a disparaging e-mail message to the cadet, who had been seeking help with advertising a political-science assembly.

But university President Richard A. Yanikoski said Sunday night that further discipline was appropriate and necessary. "He seemed quite literally to go off the deep end," Yanikoski said. "It is regrettable he said what he did."

Kirstein could not be reached for comment Sunday night.

In determining the punishment, which also includes an administrative reprimand and an addendum in Kirstein's contract that he abide by university policies, Yanikoski said he had to weigh the outrage of veterans with the right to express alternative views.

Still, there is no question that the language used by Kirstein, who has taught nearly 30 years at the school, was completely inappropriate and intolerable, Yanikoski said. The e-mail made its way onto the Internet, sparking angry responses from all over the world.

Yanikoski said he has personally responded to hundreds of e-mails--as well as some supporting the right to express opinions opposing the military.

"In the end everybody lost more than they should have," Yanikoski said. Kirstein "will be a changed man. The various sanctions I imposed will increase the odds that will happen."

[Chi-townChief]

What seems to be missing in all of the stories about this is whether Kirstein was speaking for himself or in his capacity as a St. Xavier U. professor. If he was speaking only for himself, he is protected by his 1st Amendent rights. If he was speaking as a St. Xavier professor, he also has his free speech rights but is subject to his employer's discinplinary rules.

[Chi-townChief]

PING

[Ciexyz]

I disagree that he could be speaking for himself. The cadet contacted him because he was a university professor, not because he was a private citizen. The cadet was asking his advice and help in his capacity as a university professor.

[dirtboy]

If he was speaking only for himself, he is protected by his 1st Amendent rights.

And what 1st Amendment rights are that? My company has the right to terminate me if I, for example, wrote a racist letter to the local paper. That is another 1st Amendment freedom, namely freedom of association, and it's possible that St. Xavier doesn't want to associate with this particular professor any longer.

[BearCub]

If he was speaking only for himself, he is protected by his 1st Amendent rights. If he was speaking as a St. Xavier professor, he also has his free speech rights but is subject to his employer's discinplinary rules

Nope, sorry. First amendment rights only apply with respect to the government. That is, the government cannot punish you for speaking freely.

A private institution, however, can punish you all day long for your public speech - no matter what capacity it was made in. As it is, the issue is moot. He was e-mailed as a professor at a college & he responded to that e-mail.

[alwaysconservative]

Bump.

(Cool! I was one of the "angry" people who emailed the college and expressed my opinion. Nice to know that they read some of them and took action.)

Freepers, pat yourselves on the back for this one.

[martin_fierro]

Portrait of a Left-Wing Nut.

[battlegearboat]

Anybody heard from Barbara Streisand over here?

[NorCoGOP]

What say you, Chicago FReepers?

I think some FReep action should take place ON CAMPUS.

Keep the heat on.

So far so good!

[wideawake]

First, it's pretty clear that he was speaking as a professor.

Second, his boss can fire him for saying anything or nothing.

There's nothing in the Constitution saying that an employer is compelled to retain an employee.

If he wants to safely bash the US military he should take a job with the DNC.

[BearCub]

I don't get it?

[chuknospam]

Good! Anyone that dedicates his website to the memory of Carl Marx and has this attitude towards the U.S. & the Military ought to find a new country to live in, perhaps Castro would like to have the like minded pig for a companion.

[ArcLight]

I still think this nut has a right to his opinions, certainly since he's a university prof. Punishing him for his pinheaded opinions strikes me as wrong.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

A St. Xavier University professor who called an Air Force cadet a "disgrace to this country" and a "baby-killer" has been suspended from teaching for the rest of the semester and his academic and teaching record will be reviewed, the university said.

I knew the Vietnam war wasn't over yet...

[Thud]

Sounds like his superiors think he was off his meds. Misbehavior normally gets a prof suspended from all but teaching duties. Here they suspended him from his teaching duties, which can only be to protect his students from him. Maybe they think he has rabies.

[andy_card]

"He seemed quite literally to go off the deep end," Yanikoski said.

Huh? LITERALLY? The deep end of what? This guy is a university president? Arggghhh.

[quark]

Suspended with or without pay?

[PLK]

Peter Kirstein, a tenured history and political science professor

I am always amazed at the number of left wing goofballs who are history and political science profs. How in the world can you study these subjects and remain a leftist/socialist?????? Hasn't history shown repeatedly the failures of that dogma?

[ArrogantBustard]

Maybe they think he has rabies.

What he has is infinitely worse than rabies. Rabies can only kill the body. This dude is infected with liberalism; that can kill the mind.

[ChadGore]

woooooohooooooooooooooo