Should Ward Churchill be allowed to continue to teach?

Question

His ancestry is Scots/Irish, and German. He isn't a spokesman for Natives when it comes to topics like 911. But it's a free country so it's a hard call. His job as Prof. at Boulder University will be decided soon though.

Kris, why answer if you don't know? Ward Churchill said inflamatory statements about the victims of 911 (in the name of Native Americans) and many Native American spokesman spoke out against his statements.

Hi Matt, he has admitted he is not what he claimed to be. And he insulted Native Americans, so it's very important.

We aren't friends, I don't know you. But I explained to Matt that Ward Churchill lied about his ancestry, and made Native American's look bad when they are decent people. And not supporters of terrorists.

Answer 1

Hey, I agree that Ward Churchill is an A******, but why did the American Indian Movement (AIM) issue a press release in 2005 in which AIM praised Churchill's good work for Native Americans but referred to Churchills 9/11 statement and still did not condemn Churchill for his 9/11 statement that the people who died in the WTC were "little Eichmanns."

But even with this press release, I don't even think it fair to blame Native Americans for what AIM said.

Answer 2

You are right that this is a tough call, in the sense that we really agonize over the issue of free speech in the universities. None the less, I think he should be dismissed.

There is a strong tradition of allowing professors to speak out on controversial issues. But the tradition requires that the professors not make outrageous claims without evidence, or deliberately demonize and insult people. Academic freedom requires gravitas. In Churchill's case he was vicious and made terrible unfounded accusations.

His ancestry should not be a part of the discussion. It is not about his ancestry, it is about his lack of understanding of the way in which we allow fervent but honest people to confront wrongs.

Answer 3

You have explained to me that you believe that because Ward Churchill said those terrible things about 9/11 and he also said he was a Native American, people somehow blame Native Americans for his terrible statements.

As you say, he is "Scots/Irish and German", do you --- do people now blame the Scots people, the people of Ireland, and the people of Germany for Churchill's terrible statements.

I doubt there is anyone on this earth, the asker included who hold these groups responsible and think less of them because of Churchill's terrible statements.

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