Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

U. Colorado releases professor misconduct report
By Casey Freeman
Colorado Daily (U. Colorado)
05/18/2006

(U-WIRE) BOULDER, Colo. — Nearly everybody has an opinion on what to do with University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill after reading, skimming or hearing about the 124-page report criticizing his scholarly work.

"I think it's a thorough report. The report follows the procedures in place," said Gerard Hauser, chairman of the Boulder Faculty Assembly at CU.

The report released on Tuesday and written by The Standing Committee on Research Misconduct accuses Churchill of plagiarism, falsification, misrepresentation and fabrication of information.

"The writers have made their logic quite clear," said Hauser, who said the report is "a good indication that faculty can investigate research misconduct."

In an essay published on the Internet, Churchill compared some 9/11 victims to Nazi bureaucrat Adolf Eichmann. This and other essays brought national attention to Churchill, CU and the issue of academic freedom. However, the essays were not part of the committee's investigation.

"Everyone at the university has the First Amendment freedom," said Hauser. "There's a difference between exercising a First Amendment right as a citizen, and academic freedom."

Another American Indian activist, author and former CU Ethnic Studies employee, Ernesto Vigil, has accused Churchill of six other academic violations. The Standing Committee has not said if those accusations are worth an in-depth study, according to the Denver Post.

David Lane, Churchill's attorney, had no new comments on Wednesday.

"We're going to go through with the process," Lane told the Colorado Daily Tuesday.

Jonathan Knight of the American Association of University Professors told the Associated Press Wednesday that his group estimates 50-75 professors every school year are considered for termination because of misconduct, from academic to sexual in nature.

Churchill has two weeks to submit a response to the committee. After the response is reviewed, the committee will give recommendations to CU Interim Provost Susan Avery and Arts and Sciences Dean Todd Gleeson.

The provost and dean will dole out whatever punishment is due Churchill, according to CU spokesman Barrie Hartman.

The report said two of the research misconduct committee members requested Churchill serve a two-year suspension, two members requested a four-year suspension with the revocation of tenure. One member thought that terminating Churchill was the best punishment.

If Churchill is fired, he can appeal to CU President Hank Brown. The CU Board of Regents must vote to approve Churchill's dismissal.

"Under the rules (the Regents) will make the final decision," said Hartman.

Hartman said Avery, Gleeson and CU Interim Chancellor Phil DiStefano would not speak to the press about Churchill until further notice.

Hartman said there "were no more surprises" about the Churchill's future.

Ideas about the rightful punishment for Churchill have appeared on talk radio, blogs and from just about everybody with an inkling of what's going on.

U.S. Rep. Mark Udall, D-Colo., sent a press release on Wednesday asking Churchill to resign.

"I believe that an educator who engages in this kind of misconduct has no place in our educational system," Udall wrote in the release. "Ward Churchill has sullied the reputation of the University of Colorado and has brought disgrace on the academic community."

Gov. Bill Owens and state Rep. Josh Penry, both Republicans, have also said he should quit.

Even one of his former students is questioning what should be happen to her former professor.

"It's not up to me to determine what should be done — I hope CU redeems itself to everybody nationally and to the larger Native American community on a national level, and I believe they've begun to do that," said Heidi McCann, one of Churchill's former students and a member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation.

While his fate at CU seems certain, some fellow faculty members still want Churchill around.

"Of course he should fight it," Tom Mayer, a CU sociology professor and longtime associate of Churchill, told the Colorado Daily Tuesday. "It would be a great loss to CU, a great blow to the ethnic studies department, race relations and the CU campus."

Hauser, however, is staying mum on Churchill's punishment.

"That's not for me to say," he said.

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