Many people, including many such as myself who are repulsed by Ward Churchill, believe it would be improper to fire him because of his offensive remarks. (I do, however, believe he not only could but should be fired if it is determined that he committed fraud, either in his scholarship or in falsely claiming that he is an Indian in order to benefit from a hiring preference.)
Now it appears that Churchill is not the only professor in Colorado saying offensive things.
Officials at Colorado State University-Pueblo are investigating a student’s complaint that a professor called Mexicans “lazy and bitter” during a classroom tirade against illegal immigrants.
Two students claimed tenured anthropology professor Dan Forsyth made the comment in a speech March 3, The Pueblo Chieftain reported in Saturday’s editions.
According to the students, Forsyth allegedly said illegal immigrants and Mexicans have filled up U.S. prisons and “raped the system,” the paper reported.
Forsyth denied the allegations, saying he only reminded students after class about a campus appearance by Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., an outspoken advocate for tighter immigration controls.
I wonder how many of those who defend Churchill’s right to say offensive things and keep his job would afford Prof. Forsyth the same protection (assuming for the sake of argument that Forsyth said what he’s accused of).
