Emmanuel College Professor axed for VT stunt: Re-enacted tragedy to tout pro-gun perspective...?

Question

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=195909
and to encourage critical thinking?

" Winset, 37, of Newton called the college’s decision to fire him “pathetic,” and said it will have a “chilling effect” on professors’ willingness to engage in open discussions about controversial issues.
“A classroom is supposed to be a place for academic exploration,” he said. “It’s just gotten so politically correct. It’s sad that we have come to this point.”
Winset said he gave students a disclaimer before he started his Virginia Tech re-enactment, which involved him pointing a Magic Marker at students and saying, “Pow.” He then had another student shoot him with an imaginary gun to make the point that Cho could have been stopped by another student with a firearm.
Winset said the skit was meant to be a somewhat tenuous segue into an assignment asking students to examine whether the massacre has had an impact on the financial markets, which have remained healthy

Answer 1

Doesn't sound like he did anything wrong and its not like this was some public high school full of brain washed little kids. College is about opening your mind and learning things outside of the system. Many people thought the same as this teacher, if a student or security guard had been there they could have stopped this much earlier. Plus the professor claims the school asked its teachers to bring up the shooting with their students. I hope he gets a nice settlement out of this.

Answer 2

Freedom of speech is dwindling far faster than the coastline. Gore should put his attention on that instead of global warming. America is becoming a country that apparently values freedom of approved speech -- approved speech isn't free speech. God forbid a college professor inspire students to think. Emmanuel College's leaders are an embarrassment to themselves and our country. Sadly, they represent what we are becoming - a nation full of uber-sensitive, liberal wussies who can't bear to have another viewpoint expressed or incite spirited conversation.

Answer 3

I agree. Open discussion about controversial issues is a key to understanding and educating students about real life events. Having it being a current issue helps attract student attention and participation.

Answer 4

The school must have been looking to just fire himand used this as an excuse, I would sue the school if I were that professor.

Answer 5

When your a Professor and are presumebly very well educated in all the sciences, philosophy; and pathology of human sensitivities, you would not have made such a statement. Only a person with a myoptic insensitive agenda would try and make a personal statement and then try and hide his intent as "academic exploration"

Answer 6

Sounds to me like Professor Winset had an agenda, and knew EXACTLY what the repercussions would be for his little stunt. How much you want to bet he wasn't tenured, and knew he wouldn't be?