Churchill probe ordered
CU officials ponder firing prof; regents apologize to nation
By Charlie Brennan,
Rocky Mountain News
February 4, 2005
AURORA - The University of Colorado Board of Regents ordered an investigation Thursday into whether embattled ethnic studies professor Ward Churchill should be fired, and then took the extraordinary step of apologizing to the nation for Churchill's writings about the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
In a raucous meeting where university leaders were shouted down by Churchill supporters who defied orders to be silent, the regents voted unanimously to authorize a 30- day investigation to determine whether there is cause to fire Churchill, 57.
In what may be an unprecedented action by any major university, the regents also apologized "to all Americans, especially those targeted in the 9/11 attacks and those serving in our armed forces, for the disgraceful comments of professor Churchill."
Two protesters were arrested during the meeting.
Churchill has been the subject of a firestorm of controversy since concerns were raised last week about an essay he wrote on Sept. 11, 2001, in which he compared "technocrats" working in the World Trade Center to notorious Nazi bureaucrat Adolf Eichmann and said the United States invited the terrorist attacks through a long history of violent domination of other cultures.
Contacted Thursday night about the regents' decision, Churchill said, "No comment. Until I receive something official from the regents or the university, I'm not going to comment until I know more about what I'm responding to."
The investigation to determine whether Churchill should be fired will be directed by Interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano, who has been in that post just two weeks. He will be assisted in the process by Arts and Sciences Dean Todd Gleason and School of Law Dean David Getches.
The probe could put any or all of Churchill's published writings and public remarks under a microscope; this week, he told students in one class he has authored 24 books and 70 other book chapters.
DiStefano's investigation will lead to a report to the regents, who will then make a recommendation to CU President Betsy Hoffman, who holds the power to make a final decision.
"Two primary questions will be examined in this review," DiStefano said: "One, does professor Churchill's conduct, including his speech, provide any grounds for dismissal for cause, as described in the regents' laws?
"And, two, if so, is this conduct or speech protected by the First Amendment against university action?"
The rules established by the regents state that a tenured professor can be fired only for professional incompetence, neglect of duty, insubordination, conviction of a felony or any offense involving moral turpitude, sexual harassment, or "other conduct" that falls below minimum standards of professional integrity.
David Lane, Churchill's attorney, predicted that, ultimately, nothing will come of the CU probe.
Dismissing Thursday's session as "a lot of hand-wringing and tongue-clucking," Lane said "Ward Churchill is entitled, under the First Amendment, to have any opinions about anything - especially matters of public concern - and he is allowed to write those opinions without fear of reprisal from Bill Owens or the regents of the University of Colorado."
Ultimately, Lane predicted, "They will condemn his writings, (but) beyond that, do absolutely nothing, as the law requires. That is the correct result."
Police arrested two of Churchill's supporters - one at the beginning of the meeting and one who could not be subdued until he was grabbed by several officers, one of whom was nearly knocked to the ground in the struggle.
The two-hour meeting deteriorated into chants of "Let him go, let him go," as regents were escorted from the meeting hall on CU's Fitzsimons campus.
Hoffman could not make herself heard, even with the microphone in front of her, as the meeting deteriorated into chaos. Finally, appearing speechless at the disorder that had engulfed the room, the president also made her retreat.
Prior to the meeting's termination, each regent spoke out - several struggling to be heard over remarks directed at them by dissenters - against the substance of Churchill's now infamous essay, "Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens." Some went much further.
Regent Tom Lucero called for a far-reaching evaluation of CU's overall curriculum.
"It naturally follows that I will be seeking justification for all departments and their academic value and merit to the university community," Lucero said. "I want to scrutinize whether or not it is necessary to eliminate courses and departments of questionable academic merit."
Owens, who said Wednesday that he had asked Hoffman to fire Churchill, endorsed the regents' decision to take "the necessary first step" in reviewing the professor's employment status.
The governor added, "However, I deplore the behavior displayed by some students at the regents' meeting. Their abhorrent behavior underscores the culture of violence that can be spawned by inflammatory speeches and essays such as those by Mr. Churchill."
In the wake of the meeting's turbulent climax, Hoffman said it was critical to her to emphasize "the importance of civil debate, the importance of dissent, the importance of the opportunity for people to speak freely, and also for faculty to understand the responsibility that goes with free speech."
Hoffman would not speak to whether she believes Churchill, a tenured professor on the faculty of CU since 1981, should be removed from his post.
"I will not even comment at this point," she said. "It would prejudge any process."
Churchill's essay, written the day that terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon claimed nearly 3,000 lives, took on new life more than three years after he penned it, when protests arose after he was announced as a panelist in a presentation on "The Limits of Dissent."
That event, which was to have taken place Thursday night at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y., was canceled after more than a hundred threats of violence convinced Hamilton officials they could not guarantee public safety.
On Monday, Churchill, who has heard himself branded as "Osama bin Churchill" in recent commentary, voluntarily stepped down as chairman of the CU Ethnic Studies Department, taking a pay cut of about $18,000, but retained his position as a tenured faculty member.
Excerpt from CU resolution
• "The Board of Regents apologizes to all Americans, especially those targeted in the 9/11 attacks and those serving in our armed forces, for the disgraceful comments of professor Churchill."
• Online Extra: To read the full text of the regents' statement, click on Today's links at RockyMountainNews. com.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...2241%2C00.html
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Audio: Listen to excerpts from Churchill's talks
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