[L.N. Smithee]

In a letter to Standing Elk, [CU Boulder Chancellor James Corbridge] said the university had reviewed Churchill's claims to be an American Indian but could not make that an issue in his employment.

"The university has taken your concerns very seriously," wrote Corbridge. "However, given the fact that equal opportunity is the law of the land and that positions in the public sector are to be awarded to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, and based only on their ability to do the job, the university does not believe that any attempt to remove Mr. Churchill because of his ethnicity or race would be appropriate.

"Even if Mr. Churchill is not an American Indian, as he claims, Title VII protects Caucasians as well as persons of color. Further, it has always been university policy that a person's race or ethnicity is self-proving."

I'm almost speechless. If someone swung an aluminum bat across the Corbridge's head, I don't think he would feel it.

[L.N. Smithee]

-"the"