ABC7 - Last fall, DePaul University professor Thomas Klocek was suspended without a hearing for challenging the viewpoints of certain Muslim students on campus at a student activities fair. He is now demanding a public apology from the university president in order to avoid litigation.
Klocek showed up to the news conference bound and gagged, illustrating what he believes the university did to him by censoring his views on the Middle East. Klocek says he was unfairly suspended for his views on the Muslim and Palestinian people.
"The students claimed professor Klocek's arguments were racist and hurt their feelings. They went to the dean of the school and 10 days after the debate the professor was suspended without a hearing," said John Mauck, Klocek's attorney.
DePaul University released a statement Tuesday that said the "case is not one of academic freedom, but rather one of inappropriate behavior outside the classroom by a university professional. His attitude was threatening and disrespectful to students."
Here's a description of Professor Klocek's "threatening" behavior.
DePaul student Ben Myer witnessed Klocek arguing with the group students for justice in Palestine.
"As I was walking over, professor Klocek was explaining to my colleagues that there was no such thing as Palestinians, that they don't exist. He made aggressive gestures toward the students. He approached in a very confrontational way," Myer said.
Agressive gestures? Confrontational attitude? Give me a break. My mother used to get that way when I didn't clean my room.
The big question, of course, will be whether or not Ward Churchill's defenders will support another professor who's views fall on the other side of the political spectrum.
(via Tempus Fugit)