If the professor of a college has seriously bigoted views and expresses those views on a routine basis to students in class, and the administration does nothing to change the status quo after repeated complaints from students. They should be exposed to the public and the administration which hired him/her, should be held accountable.
Multiple problems in those comments, Michael.
Pipes attacks have not been on "bigoted" views but on views which have been critical of his views of Israel and differed from his views of the ME. There are avenues to address such problems but endangering the wellbeing of faculty members and their families is not.
But to the larger question of who should address problems of bigotry in the faculty. Most universities have procedures for doing such, which attempt to balance concern for students wellbeing with issues of academic freedom. If those prove ineffective from the viewpoint of a student and/or the students parents, the student can easily avoid classes with that faculty member or transfer from that university.
If, however, by the phrase, "should be held accountable," means that you wish to enroll yourself in the Pipes school of faculty harassment then you and I are in profound disagreement.
One of the great virtues of the present American university system has been its defense, if uneven at times, of academic freedom. We should cherish it; not attack it.
Finally, as I recall, you included "communist" views as ones for which faculty members should be fired. That makes my point. |
