Colorado University Alumni comments on Ward Churchill
________________________________
I felt compelled to respond in more detail to the CU Alumni Straw Poll I received today via e-mail.
In my opinion, school rankings issued by U.S. News and World Report, the Princeton Review, Business Week, and other entities concretely shape public, as well as my own, perception of CU. Certainly, these recent developments are demonstrative proof points of progress made by the university on a number of critical fronts.
However, the university's administration, including President Brown, Interim Chancellor DiStefano, and the Board of Regents, should be far more concerned with the extremely negative perceptions of CU created worldwide by the ridiculous football sex recruiting scandal and the failure to terminate Gary Barnett as head coach; the inflammatory and treasonous remarks made by Ward Churchill and the administration's refusal to denounce his behavior; and the unfortunate resignation of Betsy Hoffman for her inability to control the firestrom of controversy surrounding the school. These scandals have severely tarnished the reputation of the university, and have embarrassed countless alumni such as myself.
CU has a daunting task ahead of it to repair the damage caused to its reputation over the past 12 months, damage which will take years to fix.
Keith R. Pillow, Esquire
Class of 1992
Camarillo, California
________________________________
Why not have beer sales since the University condones the Great American POT smoke in without expelling or having people arrestied who participate. It is no wonder the school is losing out of state enrollments by the potential students that would be an asset to the University of Colorado.
I am also amused to see that the administration of the University of Colorado still employees Churchill. I am sure that out of state parents who pay the tuition are really enthused that we hire people who are not truthful about themselves, who document as fact damning information such as military involvement in the spread of smallpox, and whose lean is towards the destruction of our government The Supreme court states that yelling "fire" in a theater is not free speech. I equate the statement on 9-11 as "Fire". Until the administration and the faculty who was appointed to evaluate Churchills ethics (who appear to be far slower than the Rocky Mountain News reporters) takes action to get rid of him, please don't bombard us with questions such as selling beer at football games or providing financial support.
Gerald S. Blaine
Class of 1959
________________________________
I have previously commented on this subject by letter. As I travel the country on company business, and individuals know or learn that I am a CU Alumni, I am invariably questioned about professor Churchill. He is an embarrassment. Even more of an embarrassment to the University is that certain members of CU Administration choose to hide behind "Freedom of Speech" and "Academic Freedom" as excuses for not correctly dealing with this problem. President Brown needs to do more than "resolve" this issue. He should dismiss Ward Churchill from any position with the University, as quickly as possible.
Dave Shuter
Class of 1959
________________________________
The number one priority for Brown is to get control of the faculty of the Boulder campus. They need to better represent the values of the majority of Coloradans. I will never send my kids up to Boulder to learn from the likes of Ward Churchill. How about a few conservative professors?
Jeffrey Hughes
Class of 1981 and 1984
________________________________
It would seem to me that whoever judges those fit to teach at CU is not thoroughly doing their job. CU now has still another black eye because of it. I hate to see this kind of bigot teaching our young and impressionable minds. Everyone to whom I have spoken about this man is embarrassed that he represents CU. First Amendment Rights vs Good Taste =some very poor PR for MY SCHOOL. Mr. Churchill's classes should be monitored to see exactly what he is teaching our students if you insist on keeping him in the classroom. Obviously, he had no one that he loved or knew in the horrible 9/11 attacks, but I do wonder where he gets the idea that these victims were Nazis in any way, shape or form. I am truly ashamed to have him represent CU. Must we put up with him forever because of tenure? Are there no escape clauses for the University to evoke? And, what was discovered when the University looked into the suspected plagiarism? Nothing has been mentioned of any findings in this matter.
Alice Ann Orton Oliver
Class of 1960
________________________________
I have great amount of respect for Dr. Hoffman, and I thank her for her efforts as CU President but I am looking forward to a change for the University (not only the president but other key administrative positions.) All items suggested in the May straw poll are very important and need immediate action. In order to address all these items I think the President needs to be made known as a true leader and the unified voice for the entire University of Colorado community. Scandals that have hurt the school's reputation should never have been allowed to be manipulated by the media. The football issues go back to 2001 if not earlier and are not unique to Colorado. The Ward Churchill problem remains unfinished and has been a controversy for years (especially to readers of the Westword newspaper.) While I am sure Dr. Hoffman was earnestly attending to her duties; I do not believe she efficiently directed the public’s perception of the school's response to the scandals. This allowed the media to create a tabloid atmosphere where rumor and political exploitation had more influence than the voice of the President. The President not generating a strong instantly recognizable message was inadequate. The Presidents first and foremost responsibility is to defend the values and reputation of the school. Everything else is second. A strong leader with clearly defined positions who can communicate their goals will have greater success in whatever conflict they face. CU is a complex community with a great deal of diverse beliefs. However I do not believe for a second that anyone in the CU family believes rape is ok, racism can be tolerated, or that the terrorist’s actions on September 11th were justified. The location of the Presidents office and the schools finances do not matter if the University is seen as an institution incapable of defending it s own values.
Brock Armstrong
Class of 1997
________________________________
It is difficult to choose between resolving the Ward Churchill issue, getting beyond the football scandal and increasing funding from both the state and private donors. I think the FIRST thing that needs attention, however, is dealing with the Ward Churchill situation. There has been total silence on the subject for some time, appearing to the outside world that the University just thinks it may go away on its own. Someone needs to take the bull by the horns and communicate that educators are obligated to educate, not brainwash, and that grades are to be awarded based on a student’s performance, not on how they parrot the opinions of their teachers. This is not what education should be about.
Susan C. Wright
Class of 1961
________________________________
Clean up the existing mess by removing Ward Churchill, but not by buying him off. Forcefully and frequently emphasize the positive things going on at CU. I read the weekly publications Science News (US science magazine) and New Scientist (UK science publication) and there is an article in one or the other or both, every week concerning research at CU. That's pretty amazing. Why not transform CU into a respected poly-technical university? Haven't we had enough of the Communist oriented decades old endless left-wing anti-American rhetoric and nonsense coming from a handful of dissidents and outright fools hiding out in the so called "Liberal Arts" at CU? Send them and the entire pretend degree programs in the Liberal Arts off to another state (better yet, to another country, like Cuba). There are plenty of opportunities for these no-talent self-proclaimed geniuses to
vent their hatred and made up baloney somewhere else. Let's transform CU into a Rocky Mountain MIT. Let's see CU emphasize studies that are focused on mathematics, physics, engineering and science.
Larry R. Hedding
Class of 1983
________________________________
Hank Brown has had a reputation of being a polished and professional individual. I would like to see him attempt to move the University in a similar direction.
My daughter just graduated last week with a degree in MCDB with a minor in BioChemistry. When I mention that she graduated from CU, the congratulatory remarks always seem to include a derogatory comment about the football team's antics or about the idiocy of Ward Churchill.
I'd like to see the ancillary comments go away. President Brown has a big job on his hands.
In a note to April's Alumni Perspective, I cannot believe Coloradans are complaining about the taxes that go toward education. I have houses in both Colorado and Texas. The property taxes here in Texas are 10 (yes ten) times as high as those in Colorado.
This year, over $15,000.00 of my Texas property taxes went toward education....meanwhile the University of Texas is second in the nation (only to Harvard) in endowments.
Last year's endowments alone would have been sufficient to pay every UT student's tuition for the next 50 years. Yet UT rates as one of the poorest academic schools in the country.
Quit complaining.
Jeff Roberts
Class of 1974
San Antonio, TX
________________________________
The selection: “Getting the media and the public to move beyond the scandal in the football program” is probably impossible. Taking quick corrective action and ensuring the media and public knows about it is the best you can do.
The selection: “Moving quickly to resolve the status of controversial ethnic studies professor Ward Churchill” is a symptom of an ethical problem. Hold all CU employee’s to high ethical standards.
Sincerely,
Bob Dubke
Class of 1968
________________________________
Remove Ward Churchill from the University before you lose any more credibility, not to mention students.
Parents do not want to fund an educational institution that supports an anarchist.
Mark Cunningham
Class 1974
________________________________
The educational system in America is completely out of control! There is less balance then there was when I was enrolled in CU in 1969. I want my alma mater to be on the leading edge of fairness in both liberal and conservative views. I believe that all Americans should be given all sides and they should then make their own decisions. Isn't higher education the place where this should start?
Until the last year I have always been proud to say I was a CU alum but no longer. Between the football scandel and this Ward Churchill situation I apologize for the actions of my university.
I work for a company that lost sixteen people on 9/11. Countless others in my company have the memories of unspeakable horror for their lifetime. For Ward Churchill to speak out like he did is an assault on the innocent civilians who either died that day or who will never forget the terror.
Nancy Sechrist Russell
Class of 1969
Montpelier, VA
________________________________
Colorado University must find its moral compass. Ethics, principles and standing up for what is right should be paramount. Ward Chuchill should be dismissed. Academic freedom does not include equating victims of terrorism anywhere in the world to Nazis. An ethical administration would not tolerate the goings on with the athletic program. Character should count more than the pursuit of the dollar at a world class university.
Colorado University is in danger of becoming a national joke with its (past) weak leadership and tepid responses to major problems. There is a strong perception that the Regents are not up to the job and that responses to problems are shaped by political agendas. the University can blame the media for its problems for just so long, but until CU stands up for what is right, there will be lessened respect for a wonderful institution and little willingness to support continued or increased funding. Why would anyone be willing to see taxes increased so that Ward Churchill can continue to teach his distorted view of the world?
I wish President Brown well and hope he deals with the ethical mess at the university in order to restore some prestige to the school.
Eugene Ross
Class of 1956
Chicago, IL
________________________________
We must move beyond the recent scandals at CU but at the same time work to restore state funding for higher education and discourage unprofessional role models from even thinking about teaching at CU.
Jan JW
Class 1951
Golden, CO
________________________________
Clearly more funding for higher education is a must. Getting the so called scandal behind us and the Churchill mess out of the way would help a great deal too. I think the Boulder campus would be better served if the president were off the campus. There are way too many conflicts with the president on campus. You need only serve on a couple of advisory boards and hear the deans talk about what the president thinks rather than what the chancellor thinks to know what the problem is. Ask some of the past chancellors and they will tell you the same thing. It is hard for the president to stay out of campus issues when they are the chancellor's issues.
Bob Charles
Class of 1959
________________________________
Are you serious. Is the University of Colorado an educational institution or just another liberal mouthpiece for political correctness (Communist re-education camp). Now you want more tax payer money for the likes of (chief) Ward Churchill and the Marxist crowd over in "Ethnic Studies" (whatever that is). Why don't you holdovers from the 60's take your bongs and light out for Cuba? Is that insensitive enough?
Class of 1993
Boulder, CO
________________________________
Higher education is extremely important to the future success of any individual and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to receive my degree from C.U. However, I am not in favor of increasing our support at this time. If the University systems nationwide were not controlled so much by radical leftists, I would support them further. But the leftist radicals have taken over and have no appreciation or tolerance for anything in the middle. Once both viewpoints can be safely taught, I would be in favor of supporting higher education even further, beyond what I will pay for our 3 children to attend a public college or university. When I see an institution like Colorado "investigate" Ward Churchill and not take decisive actions to oust him and then oust an exceptional Professor like Phil Mitchell without ANY review, that is unbalanced and unacceptable. The University needs more balance back to the middle and away from the far left.
Terri (Peaker) Parker
Class of 1991
Ann Arbor, MI
________________________________
cualum.org
* * * |
