LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL
July 18, 2007
67LCR#3
Sponsored by:
Daniel Ramos Representative-at-Large
Authored
by: Hadley Brown Tri-Executive
Kim
Collins Student-at-Large
A Resolution
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Resolution
History
Since February 2005, CU administrators have been under intense political and financial pressure to dismiss controversial Ethnic Studies Professor Ward Churchill. The pressure began when Dr. Churchill received public criticism from local, state, and national press and political figures for his controversial writings about the 9/11 attacks. Shortly thereafter, CU administrators assembled the Standing Committee on Research Misconduct to investigate Dr. Churchill’s extensive academic work, including more than 20 books, 100 articles, and over 12,000 footnotes. When the SCRM’s investigative committee concluded that “academic misconduct” had taken place, pointing to seven instances of alleged improper footnoting or author attribution, only one of its five members recommended that Dr. Churchill be dismissed, and three recommended that he be suspended. Following the committee’s conclusion, Interim Vice Chancellor Phil Di Stefano recommended Churchill’s dismissal. On appeal to the Privilege and Tenure Committee, 3 of the 5 members recommended a 1-year suspension, not dismissal. However, President Hank Brown recommended that the Regents fire Professor Churchill.
Even though key CU administrators have recommended that he be dismissed, many people in the academic community—both at CU and across the nation—have decried attempts to fire Professor Churchill. Most of those who have spoken against efforts to fire Professor Churchill do so because they see the investigation of his scholarship as a pretext to fire him for political reasons. They warn that his dismissal would mark a dangerous precedent for political censure and unwarranted attack of a tenured Professor. In addition, many argue that the committee cannot call itself “a panel of Professor Churchill’s peers” (Standing Committee on Research Misconduct Report, p. 15) since none of the committee members were scholars of American Indian Studies or authors of politically critical writings. Numerous and detailed reports challenge the investigation process and the validity of the committee’s allegations of academic misconduct.
On Tuesday, July 24, 2007 the CU Board of Regents will hold a special meeting during which they will vote on the dismissal of Professor Ward Churchill.
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Resolution
Summary
Whereas, The protection of Academic Freedom and the Freedom of Speech are of utmost importance in ensuring a safe, enriching educational experience for college students and their instructors; and
Whereas, If Professor Churchill is fired, it will establish a precedent that would justify targeting professors and students who make politically controversial statements, and undermine the institution of tenure; and
Whereas, The investigation into Professor Churchill’s work appears to have been prompted by the political attack of his controversial September 2001 essay; and
Whereas, Professor Churchill did not receive a fair hearing and was denied sufficient time or means to respond to the allegations of academic misconduct leveled against him; and
Whereas, The University and key decision makers have deliberately excluded students and faculty from the decision-making process and obscured the surrounding events.
THEREFORE,
BE IT ENACTED by the Legislative Council of the
Section 1, UCSU urges the Board of Regents not to dismiss Professor Churchill.
Section 2, Members of UCSU feel it absolutely necessary that students, faculty, staff, and members of the public be given ample time to share their perspectives with the Board of Regents before a decision is made in this matter.
VOTE
7/19/07 Special
Order FAILED 8-2-2
7/19/07 Failed 7-7-1
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Hadley
Brown, Tri-executive