Posted on 02/08/2005 12:23:20 PM PST by SmithL
Boulder -- A University of Colorado professor under fire for comparing the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks to Nazis went to federal court Tuesday challenging a decision to cancel his speech.
On Monday, Colorado administrators announced they had canceled the speech by ethnic studies professor Ward Churchill for Tuesday because of security concerns. Earlier this month, Hamilton College in upstate New York canceled another speech by him because of death threats against the professor and its administrators.
The dispute over the professor is one of several controversies that have roiled the Boulder campus.
In his filing Tuesday in Denver federal court, Churchill asked a judge to prohibit CU from canceling the speech, calling the last-minute decision to do so "nothing but an effort to stifle me and not let me speak on a matter of public and personal concern."
"I was intending to explain my meaning to the audience, in particular the CU student body," Churchill said in an affidavit. His lawsuit alleges the university violated his rights and those of the people who hoped to hear him speak.
A hearing on the matter was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, three hours before Churchill was to speak. A university spokeswoman did not immediately return calls, but campus police spokesman Lt. Tim McGraw said authorities are prepared to provide security if the judge clears the way for the speech.
The university in the past year has weathered a sex scandal in the football program and the alcohol poisoning death of a fraternity pledge at a campus trying to shed its party-school image. But nothing has incited more passion and outrage than Churchill.
Two students were arrested at a Board of Regents meeting last week and swastikas were spray-painted on Churchill's pickup truck.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Tell him to rent his own hall and security and put the event on himself.
It never ceases to amaze me that people confuse freedom of speech with freedom from having to listen to their crap.
Yes! There's no one stopping him from doing that!
"people confuse freedom of speech with freedom from having to listen to their crap."
Now that's sheer poetry!
Isn't it amazing how when the other side of the coin is expressed, it can be so profound?
David Horowitz, a champion of conservative causes who has long accused American universities of overstocking their faculties with leftists, said firing Churchill would violate his First Amendment rights and set a bad precedent.
He called instead for an inquiry into the university's hiring and promotion procedures ''to see how Ward Churchill could get to the pinnacle of the faculty, to be the chair of an entire department.''
''This isn't like a guy who was suddenly exposed,'' Horowitz said. ''This is a guy who's been out in the open for 30 years and was promoted.''
I agree. CU gets off way too easy if they fire Churchill. They hired him and then gave him tenure so he's exactly the guy they wanted.
Still waiting on a response from the University.Asked them WHY Americans who disagree with Churchills HATE America first claims that we need more 9-11- type attacks, and that he wants "the US out of North America; . . .Out of existance altogether." I've asked them Why we who disagree with him ought pay for his CRAP.If th eFBI can rifle through a preachers sermons and covertly investigate the
congregation to protect an abortion mill. Then Certainly the
FBI ought investigate Churchill. I asked the University WHY
they didn't change his classroom ,often.Cease supplying his
classes. And stop all University support. Including garnish his wages and freeze his bank accounts until he settles with the State ,and system he wants "out of existance altogether."Only seems fair to me.
Unbalanced professors creating inflamatory situations to achieve a sense of importance are like any other sick individual. Criticizm is what this pathetic creature craves.
This story almost feels like an Onion piece to me. Going to the government to force people to listen to your rantings?
This man is truly delusional.
right on the money...
They should simply cancel "him".
I think I know what you were trying to say, but after reading your post several times, I'm not at all certain what the heck it says. Please try again.
"....we need more 9-11- type attacks, and that he wants "the US out of North America; . . .Out of existance altogether."
The US (as such) is nothing but the government.......he is openly calling for the violent overthrow of the US government......anybody disagree?
"firing Churchill would violate his First Amendment rights"
It is a typical liberal who thinks conservative values must be cesnored, but their "free speech" should never get them into trouble.
I see the professor subscribes to the idea that the best defense is a good offense.
Agree. Churchill calls for the violent overthrow of the United States government.
Yeah, what makes him think the University owes him a platform to speak. Talk about arrogant!
Exactly! He rants and raves against capitalist America, then wants to be paid OUR CAPITALIST money for opening his yap and making us listen!
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