Muslim students threaten, force resignation of prof who quoted from Islamic texts

This is horrible! Thank you for posting this. I am particularly upset that this is happening in my homestate of Texas, a state that is proud of its tradition. This is appalling.

A lecturer on the University of Copenhagen's Institute of Middle-Eastern Studies read from the Quran during one of his lectures. In direct consequence he was shortly afterwards beaten up.
It was one of the causes for the Muhammad cartoon controversy.

Its the same anywhere a non muslim dares read from the Holy korap

This was reported at the time by J/W.

Sir beaten for teaching RE to Muslim girls

By STAFF REPORTER

Published: In the Sun, 26 May 2011

FOUR Islamic extremists were jailed today after they attacked an RE tutor because they did not want him teaching religious studies to Muslim girls.

Teacher Gary Smith, 38, received "appalling injuries" after he was set upon by the gang as he walked to work at Central Foundation Girls' School in Bow, east London, on July 12 last year.

Armed with a metal rod and a brick, they punched, kicked and attacked Mr Smith, leaving him unconscious and covered in blood on the pavement in Burdett Road, Tower Hamlets.

Simon Alam, 19, of Whitechapel, Azad Hussain, 26, of Wapping, Sheikh Rashid, 27, of Shadwell, and Akmol Hussein, 26, of Bethnal Green, all in east London, pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm with intent earlier this year.

Sentencing them at east London's Snaresbrook Crown Court, Judge John Hand QC said he believed they all remained a danger to the public due to their extreme religious beliefs.

Addressing the defendants one by one, he said: "Your belief is that you carried out a duty to your God and you did so with no mercy.

"If you think that people around you in society present an insult or threat to God then you will not hesitate in attacking again in the way that you have acted."

After hearing how Mr Smith suffered multiple injuries, including lacerations and bruising all over his body, has a permanent 12cm long deep scar across his left cheek, and how the whole of the facial part of his skull was broken, he said: "Literally, this man had his face smashed in."

The court heard how the men were only caught out because Akmol Hussein's car was being bugged on an unrelated matter.

Jailed ... Azad Hussain, top left, Akmol Hussein, top right, Sheikh Mohammed Meraj Rashid, bottom left, and Simon Alam

On the surveillance tape they were heard to plan the attack and it was also clear that they had lain in wait for Mr Smith as he walked to school on other mornings as they spoke of how they had been unsuccessful on other occasions.

Hussein, who had a niece at the school, was heard to say: "He's mocking us and he's putting thoughts in people's minds.

"How can somebody take a job to teach Islam when he's not even a Muslim himself?"

He was also recorded as saying that he did not care if he had to go to prison over the attack as he was doing it for the sake of Allah.

The judge concluded Akmol Hussein, a social worker and self- employed builder, and Azad Hussain, a finance worker, played the greatest role in the planning and execution of the attack and sentenced them each to an indeterminate sentence with a minimum of five years.

Student Alam was told he must serve a minimum of five years in prison before being released on licence for a further five years, while bus driver Rashid was handed a four-year sentence with a further five years on licence.

A fifth defendant, Badruzzuha Uddin, 24, also of Shadwell, was jailed for two years after previously admitting a charge of assisting an offender after he hid the men's bloodstained clothes

Moral of the story for educators (and, I suppose, most others as well): If you're going to discuss Islam, bring a recorder (voice or video) - and USE it!

Truth is the new hate speech.
- Pamela Geller

Especially when it comes from Islamic scriptures.

Naklah Night: An Insightful Letter From Our Fearless Leader
Open the letter! Read it! What did Mo write? To pray for grace & right, or fight?
Well, not exactly fight, per se, but instead to attack from behind, in the night.
Infidel caravans are evil, preached Mo on Main Street, they gotta be stopped!
Islam made its first murders, kidnappings & ransoms, w/o a single haid lopped.
- the Holy Prophet APF

*** 33:21 ***

Btw, the Holy Prophet Mohammed was an illiterate, so he couldn't write. Probably he forced a rabbi at knife-point to pen the famous letter.

I know that when I went to bed last night and eventually fell asleep that I was in Canada, the West where we have lived an 'enlightened'life for ages now. So when I awoke to find myself waking up in a different World let alone a different Country. In a fair minded,accepting society that prides itself on rights and freedoms for the individual, the group, belief, whatever the case may indeed be, unless it is espousing a hateful ideology, one that shouts for death of opponents, or the non-believer if it is a Religious philosohpy.
Anyway this is a sorry turn for the believer in freedom and that concept of freedom being applied to speech. This is nuts people, to put it tepidly, this is truely a Kafka like nightmare slice of the modern society, appeasement for those whose role is that of the hypocrite, the Iago of the Magna Carta (sorry if spelling is laughable,glasses have gone walkies?).
Lastly this word of thanks for the tireless work and the effort given to maintain this site and to see it flourish as it has (hopefully, from this side it appears as though...). So cheers and at the risk of Not offending anyone, have A Merry Christmas and a good night to all. Cheers people and peace.

Another example of where there are Muslims, there is a high probability that trouble will follow. Also a given is the cowardice of many educational administrators, such as here at this Texas college. And this combination of Muslims and Western cowards is not a good combination for liberty. The teacher who resigned, however, has won my esteem and I wish him well. Additionally, the more this matter is made public to all, which appears is ongoing, the better. Ordinary folks in America (and throughout the West) must learn all they can about Islam because knowledge is power and a great ally of liberty.

This is another proof that Muslims are hypocrites. The Qur'anic verse in question: "Fighting is prescribed on you." Means that it is an obligation, those who don't fight are hypocrites.

Muhammad himself said: "Whoever dies without having went on a raid or having conceived of it, dies on the branch of hypocrisy." (Sahih Muslim, Sunan an-Nisa'i)

I'm in 110 percent sympathy with the professor, here. But, I'm a little troubled that he resigned--not sure that resigning equates to standing his ground. Somehow, I think the decision should've been theirs, not his. Then...let the games begin!

"Finally, toward the end of the class period, a student made a comment on how "scary" the person of Muhammad seemed to be. That's when the male Muslim blurted out "you ought to be scared," and then bolted for the door in a fit of outrage."

So, some think Muhammad was not a prophet? It would seem that he was, at least in this regard.

Resigning was the right and only thing to do.
Mr. Paul Derengowski is going to be admired and supported across America for having the courage of not being intimidated away from expressing a truth, especially when such truth and fact is within the context of the class he teaches.

He has very clearly demonstrated the muslim student's disruption and creation of a hostile environment , in and out of the classroom, and a failure of the school administrators to support him. At the very least it was an unfair and biased attack on him individually and professionally as he sought to teach maintaining the best professional and ethical standards.

All this behavior supports the existence of an organized criminal gang of thugs, called islam. The basis, the core, of all legitimate established religions, does not now, involve sanctioned physical acts of violence, and hatred, nor do legitimate established religions threaten the wellbeing of living rivals. That applies to long established or more recently established religions, equally. Violence is not sanctioned, and tolerance is not a problem. Yes, some have spoken of violence in the past, but time and civilizing has moderated totally, actual religions, from some earlier minor destructive practices, sometimes to the danger of self-defense, being needed against mortal enemies, including large gangs, such as islam.

Only gangs do that destruction of others, and destructive "cults", who try to use a godlike invention to legitimatize themselves. All official reference texts since original organization of the fraud of islam, authorize, command and threaten harm and hate of anyone not believing in the supremacy of islam, and not believing closely enough to various factions of islam gangs, so they harm and destroy and torture each other, as well as all others.

In fact, islam has nothing that is accurate, that is related to religions, but is most closely allied to jim jones, branch davidians, nazism, mafia, the Japanese cult involved in the nerve gas train homicides, the cult involved with the salad poisoning, the ku klux klan, the crips, and on and on. Think hard on that, what religion is it so close to, any, as currently practiced? Exactly why is it so close, if you've found one? Which gang, cult, or enemy of humanity, is it similar to, and again, why?

Try saying truths or lies about real Religion's and their adherents, and what do you get, apathy, law suits, or arguments, but never destructive, violent physical attacks, on one's person, family or property. Your soul may be proposed for not doing well, and even your earthly life may be cursed, but no physical harm will be forthcoming, nor will you need to fear, for your being, from a real Religion, period.

islam is not a religion, by its founding and continuing documents and practices, period. It is long overdue that the uneducated, gullible, free pass, it has been given as a religion is revoked, and it needs be banned as an organized hate group. It cannot be modified, it is a criminal hate group gang of thugs, period. And, by the way, for 1400 years, there have been hundreds of thousands of individuals, towering into the millions, and probably billions, who have realized on various levels that islam could be no religion, ever.

The adherents of the gang of islam always are at the ready to cry foul on the truth of what they are, and must do so by the code of the gang, so written in the ko-ran and hadiths. Thus the truth about them is cause for harm and hate, and is easy for them to deny, as victims of their very own truths. What is irony to others, is logical illogic to them, that the proselytizing of their ko-ran when carried to the full detail of accuracy, is their downfall of being actually nothing but the extension of a gang of thugs.

It is inexcusable for collegiate administrators to be so cowardly or un-educated, equally so for faculty members, to be so ignorant of what they speak of. The fact is the majority of collegiate people are uninformed in perforing their so called jobs, too often earning undeserved incomes, under titles of undeserved puffery, such as chairman, dean, adjunct, and various other pretensious high and mighty words of collegial so called distinction.

As I see it, in most, but not all, places of so called upper learning, things are not what they seem, or should be, and I'm beginning to question if it was ever different.
Far too many pretentious, vindictive, stuffed shirts, worrying about their place on the collegiate pecking order, rather than actually being educated, so that they may educate, how to truly think, and to know and the difference. 'Course I'm speaking mostly of the realm of the non science portion, which is harder to be an empty headed stuffed shirt in, but not that difficult.

From today's
http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/

"Feminists Back Women as Possessions in Supreme Court Case

The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF)... argued... stating that forcing a Muslim woman to uncover her face while testifying “could very well be seen and experienced as an act of racial, religious and gendered domination.”

To state the painfully obvious isn't the veil an act of gendered domination?"

Neither the college, nor the public, care's a jot about truth telling, as did the professer in this case, who quoted from the ko-ran. The above quote is factually wrong regarding "racial, reliigious, and gendered domination" thus showing lies do pervade the public discourse to make fraudulent points, which are thus untrue.

And from weaselzippers today, the potus is caught talking out of both sides of his mouth in just two sentences, (with a teleprompter, perhaps?)

“Congress can’t end the year by taking money out of the pockets of working Americans. Now is not the time for playing politics. Now is the time to do what’s right for the American people.” (by playing politics, perhaps? (I just gotta get out on that beach and golf course, while the gettin's good!))

For those wishing to add their voice of support by contacting Tarrant County Officials to let them know of your disapproval over their mishandling of the affairs that led to my resignation and the deprivation of student’s education, because two Muslim students did not like how the facts were presented about their religion during the Great World Religions class, they may doing so using the following information.

Write or call Mr. Rusty Fox, Vice President of Student Development at the SE Campus. Ph. (817) 515-3015 or Fax (817) 515-3177. 
Email address: RUSTY.FOX@tccd.edu

Write or call Dr. Barbara Coan, Vice President of Teaching and Learning Service, SE Campus. Ph. (817) 515-3010 or Fax (817) 515-0771. 
Email address: Barbara.coan@tccd.edu.

Write or call Mr. Josue Munoz, Dean of the Humanities Division, SE Campus. Ph. (817) 515-3013. Fax (817) 515-0805. Email address: JOSUE.MUNOZ@tccd.edu

Be firm, but refrain from any kind of vile, threatening, or unseemly commentary. Do not stoop to the level of the two Muslim students, Randa Bedair and Mohamad Khorchid. Let the truth be heard, even though it is likely that you will be stonewalled by the admins, like many of us already have been. Thank you.

Good Evening. I am one of the students in Professor D's class the evening this took place. My response is very lengthy.

On November the 8th, Professor D started the class by asking "when you hear the word Islam, what do you think of?" One student spoke of the US hostages Iran took in 1979, one student spoke of the head-dress women wear and someone stated "the food is good". Professor D also asked the two Muslim students how well they knew their own religion - they both stated very well.

Professor D gave started the lecture telling us about Muhammad's childhood, his wives, his father, his children and those that followed him. Professor D's presents his lectures with PowerPoint slides. I've never counted how many but I'm guessing anywhere from 10 -15. As the class when on, the male Muslim in the class started berating Professor D about the material he had. We started the class on slide 1 and ended the class on slide 1.

Professor D then began telling us about Muhammad’s life in the caravans, his trip to Mecca and how he obtained his fortunes - by raiding caravans and killing people. Professor D was interrupted many times by both Muslim students. The male Muslim student was more aggressive in his statements than the female student. Professor D even read from their Qur'an and they were still aggressive in what they had to say. The evening of the 8th, the male Muslim student asked Professor D to prove his information. Professor D told him he would do so at the next class.

The evening of November 10th, Professor D began the class by proving his information from the class two nights before. The student stated "You need to use authenticated material"; "I can bring in a Ph.D. I've studied with to tell us about Muhammad" (this is the student who informed us he began studying his religion at age 7). Again, we began class on slide 1. Professor D, once again, began class with the history of Muhammad. How he traveled the routes of the caravans, robbing people and killing them.

The two students became livid stating that's not true, that's not how our religion is taught. In all our teachings we've never heard this. Every time a student in the class would ask a question - they were interrupted. One of the students stated "Remember on Tuesday, Professor D asked us what we think of when we hear Islam? Your behavior now is exactly what I think of and it's scary."

Every time a student attempted to ask a question - the same thing - interruption after interruption. Professor D always had a book to show the class related to the religion we were studying. I asked the students if possibly throughout the centuries if possibly their religion had been changed in the way it is taught. Before I could finish my question the male Muslim student rudely interrupted me. In my tactful, mother voice, I told him "Excuse me, I'm speaking and you are not going to interrupt me". In a smart alec tone - he somewhat apologized.

The classes are 1 hour and 20 minutes - By this time the whole class was being interrupted by the Muslim students each time the stated something and were making statements that no one else in the class had become offended with any of the other religions that had been covered in the class so far.

Before the class ended the male Muslim student left and on his way out stated "You should be scared". After a while, the female student left. Professor D handled the situation very well. We were able to have about 20 more minutes of class and eventually made it slide 3 covering the 5 pillars.

About 15 students of the class stayed afterwards discussing the situation with Professor D. I apologized to Professor D for the tone I used towards the student. The male student has interrupted the class the whole semester. Students have talked to Professor D about this and Professor D even spoke with the male Muslim student prior to a class beginning regarding his continual interruptions.

Professor D filed a police report with the campus police due to the threat of the Muslim student for the safety of his students and his own safety. Campus police walked him to his car that evening.

Several of the students I talked with stated the situation was scary. I stayed afterwards in the class because I felt my safety might be of concern walking to my car from the classroom.

On November 12th, the female Muslim student sent an email to the whole class defamating Professor D. Stating he had referred to Islam in class as a cult - Nope, never happened. Stating information about his website - no big deal with me; and on and on and on. The female student also stated she would never step foot in this man’s class. Guess who's still attending class?

On November 15th, Dean Munoz met with the class and told us the class was cancelled and after we signed the role sheet we were free to leave. That evening the class received an email from Professor D stating he had resigned. November 17th - Professor Sharon Whettengel met with the class letting us know a new instructor would be taking over the class. I asked her if Professor D's syllabus had been approved by TCC and she stated "yes". This is the same syllabus Professor D has used since 2008. Professor Whettengel kept saying "I can't say anything about this". One of the students stated she had received an email from Professor D stating he had resigned. Except the two Muslim students, I emailed the whole class with Professor D's resignation email. I made sure the two Muslim students knew they had not been included in the email. The male student said "nice for pointing us out".

Another student in the class began talking to Professor Whettengel and was interrupted by the male Muslim student - She informed him "I'm not talking to you". The professor kept stating "I know you're frustrated". I told her "this is my opinion and it might not be the opinion of everyone in the class, we're not frustrated we're disgusted and pissed off!” Some of the students said "exactly".

Once the new instructor was introduced and he had gone over his syllabus, one of the students left class stating "I'm not leaving because of the new instructor, I'm disgusted and sickened how the administration has handled this". This student has not returned to class since.

Since this situation transpired, I emailed Dean Coan - no response; emailed Dean Munoz - took him 2 weeks to answer the email; emailed Sharon Whettengel twice - she responded to one email. I've filed a complaint with Rusty Fox at TCC - who in an email told me I needed to be patient. When I responded to him and copied the Chancellor, President of the campus and the district office he responded stating he had spoken to me regarding the complaint. I responded to him stating "the ONLY time you have spoken to me was when you called asking if I still wanted to file the complaint. That is the only time you have spoken to me. Aside from the editor of The Collegian and Phil Alvarado of Fox 4 News, they are the only people I've talked to". I reiterated to him in several emails Friday information I had sent to Dean Munoz, Dean Coan and Sharon Whettengel. TCC student handbook states the actions of these two students is not accepted at TCC and will result in suspension.

I was interviewed by Phil Alvarado of Fox 4 News - I figure since I wasn't offended by Professor D's website I wasn't a good candidate for their report. The editor of the school newspaper interviewed me for a follow-up article on Professor D. After reading the follow-up article, I emailed the editor of the paper stating the lies both Muslim students had given her for the paper. A copy of the email was sent to Mr. Fox. Aside from Professor Whettengl speaking with the class, no one from TCC has spoken to the class. If someone would take the time to speak with the class, they would find out the numerous lies being told to TCC administration by the Muslim students.

I know of two additional students in the class that have filed complaints. One of the complaints submitted was nine pages long. I was actually enjoying Professor D's class and was looking forward to attending some of his other classes.

I have replied too many of the websites that have posted the story about Professor D. As I stated to Mr. Fox with TCC - I'm very adamant about this situation. An injustice has been done by TCC.

Something to think about.

I wonder just how much of this kind of Muslim bullying - whether of faculty, as in this case, or of fellow students, or of visiting speakers who are deemed to be offensive to Islam - has been going on, on university and college campuses all over the Western world and even beyond it, in the past twenty or thirty years or so?

I wonder just how many deemed-offensive-to-Islam speakers have been disinvited, how many good teachers fired or forced to resign (due to pressure exerted directly upon them, or upon the institution, up to and including threats, blackmail, false claims about the teacher's personal integrity, etc), how many students pushed out of courses or even off campus altogether, ever since our universities in the West became foolish enough to 1. accept large donations from Muslim entities and 2. accept large numbers of Muslim 'students' and 3. hire Muslims as teachers or administrators?

A further question: how many non-Muslim students, taking classes in courses related to Islam (or even other subjects) taught by Muslim faculty members, may have been marked down or even failed, for saying perfectly truthful, well-researched things in their research papers, or in their exams, that were deemed to be insufficiently flattering and 'respectful' of Islam. Further question: how many Muslim 'scholars' ensconced in teaching positions in Western universities, may have used their positions to mark Infidel students down, simply because they were Infidels?

I suspect there may be much, much more that has happened, or is presently going on, in our Muslim-infiltrated-and-subverted education systems, than has managed to filter out into the Press.

and why this occurring in the land where freedom of speech is supposed to prevail? in the leading states of democracy?

if you thought that jihad through terror or breeding is sums of islamic methods, you're for the treat. there is other way to promote islam and that through politics, through your own elected representatives, who will bend to the drop of oil and betray you.

they already into limiting constitutional rights in favor of islam. instead defending democracy, freedom of speech ...etc

sending arms to egypt, where 'muslim brotherhood' prevail. its regional suicide.

however, don't be fooled to think, that if Obama gone, it will end this fiasco. it won't. this illness persist with the old administration and continues on. US own survival apparently depends upon your shoulders.

was it beneficial to assist the Taliban to win USSR? were Taliban appreciated american infidel aid? 9.11 proves to negative outcome.

better the USSR won Afghanistan, it could have turn to a civil place in the end, than the shit hole it is now. don't get me wrong, I'm not favoring USSR. far from it. I simply pointed out to lesser evil in compare.

The modern Politically Correct world is like a mine field. It is nearly impossible to cross it without upsetting someone's subjective perceptions of justice or injustice. The only way to avoid it is to become catatonic.

I have often wondered how any young person could possibly learn enough about the landscape to escape getting blown up -- more than once -- and still live to become PC-compliant.

One strategy that a student could take is to always preface any argument with a proviso of "for the sake of argument * * *." You can take one side, or many. A good lawyer might seek to research and outline the best arguments available to an opposing party. A good debate club contestant needs to be nimble enough to argue from any position, from any subjective position.

There are always people laying new landmines, it can be a profitable enterprise provided that the advocate is a member of the bar.
http://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity.html

Perhaps challenge the loudmouth students to write an OpEd piece of their own. There should be no harm in writing a piece that takes their position, and argues it as persuasively as possible. The PC world, after all, is about knowing the subjective perceptions of others -- which is an inherently impossible task given the infinite variety of people, many of whom have multiple positions, which can also change over time.

The administration might just be acting catatonic. Politically Correct is a label for a religion (in my opinion), particularly when coupled with law because lawyers must pass a moral character test which satisfies the moral code of someone else.

"For the sake of argument * * *."

Just further proof that islam has entered the protected realm of homosexuality in which they are entitled special protections and afforded to act outside of the rules that apply to others. Critics are squelched as bigots, hate-mongers, etc. Makes me sick.

I cannot wait until islamists feel comfortable enough in their station to openly reveal exactly how they really feel about homosexuality...

Muslims just can't stand it when the truth about Islam reaches Infidel ears...

Apparently they also can't stand it when you read the Qur'an to Infidel ears...

Muslims thrive on delivering fear...

Good evening, all --

I am also a student in Professor Derengowski's "The Great Religions of the World" philosophy class, and cannot even begin to express how shocking this whole episode has been. Like my classmate Pam, I have also been vocal about this situation with the sincere hope of having this "righted" for Professor D. I don't know what they may look like, but the actions - or inactions, rather - of the acamdemic leadership of TCC's Humanities department against our Professor is unbelievable.

Professor D has taught this same class for over 3 years at the TCC SE campus in Arlington, TX. From the first day of the semester, he has stated his position of coming from a Christian world view, but has covered each religion for us in a fair, historical manner. If we ask a subjective question, he allows us to engage in subjective debate, which has allowed all of us to learn from him as well as each other.

So it wasn't a surprise to anyone when it came time to begin our review of Islam. After all, these classes were on the TCC-approved syllabus, and every student was supplied a syllabus. But it was a surprise when the two Muslim students derailed the Islam classes to a degree that far exceeded any form of spirited, collegiate debate. They verbally attacked Professor D's educational background, stating he wasn't qualified to teach about religion and certainly not about Islam, challenged his reading from their own holy book, and berated the interjections of any student who attempted to turn the class back to it's original purpose of learning. The male student issued a personal threat to Professor D, stating Islam was the largest religion in the world and he should "be careful" of what he says about Islam.

This issue escalated when the Dean of the Humanities Department, Dean Josue Munoz, greeted us at our November 13th class to say class was cancelled and to sign-in to receive credit for showing up. No explanation, just sign-in and go home, and wait for Thursday's class for further information. It was when I came back home on the night of the 13th that I saw the libelous email from the female Muslim student.

Since that time, I have been doing everything I can to stand up for Professor D and what has transpired in this class. I have gone through TCC's established protocal in trying to get the administration's attention, because our Professor has had to resign, our class has been "reoriented", the grades of the two Muslim students have been adjusted, and the substitute professor is having us "go forward" - by going backwards - via reading the introduction and first 3 chapters of our text book to finish out the semester.

I have emailed the administration requesting an investigation, including the filing of an official student grievance with Mr. Rusty Fox, to also request from him an investigation of these events, a redress of the Humanities leadership in their knee-jerk reaction with the Muslim students, and yet not even asking any of the other students about what took place leading up to the departure of our Professor. Those of us that filed official grievances were supposed to have received a response from Dr. Ricardo Coronado last Friday, December 9th, but that hasn't happened as of yet. But no one from the adminsitration has asked me any questions or even for clarification on the issues I raise. So how is this being investigated? Conviently, the semester ends this coming week. I have not returned to class since our "reorientation" by TCC administration on November 15th, and accordingly, my grades for this class have suffered - I did have a high B from Professor D, which I worked quite hard to earn. The substitute professor is allowing me, as well as some of the other students, to come in early this Tuesday and take our finals...over the introduction of the text book.

I have spoken with newstations and newspapers, and have received many emails about my opinion in this matter. Today at my church, the topic was centered around being on fire for God, and not to be a "lukewarm" Christian. I want to do the right things, and I've been praying for Professor D's well-being every night since all this began. I think to do *nothing* in a situation that is so glaringly unjust, would be the biggest crime I could commit.

Best Regards,

Ginger

Will be on American Family Radio Talk this afternoon at 2:15 p.m. Central Time with Brian Fischer to discuss what happened over my TCC resignation. It will be live. Not sure about call-ins, since the interview will last only 15 minutes. Please tune in if you have the opportunity and want to listen. http://www.afa.net/radio/

To Paul Derengowski and his students,

Thank you for sharing.

We haven't had academic freedom in American colleges and universities since the 1960s and the situation worsens every day.

I called all the administrators listed; their offices are referring everyone to TCC's PR office. I pointed out to them that I wanted my message (expel the Muslim students, reinstate Prof Derengowski) to be conveyed to the college's administrators. The PR office does not make policy, change policy, or deal with personnel/student issues.

So yes, TCC is deflecting the situation as much as possible without dealing with it. This is sick. Obviously they are hoping it goes away; a brighter light needs to be shined on the situation.

For the sake of thoroughness, here's the PR contact:

Rita Parson, Coordinator of Marketing and PR ph 817.515.5211

But we still need to be calling and emailing the administrators themselves.

Dr. Derengowski, please keep us updated!

Well, today is the last day of the semester and still no response on our grievances. Here is the email I received yesterday from Rusty Fox, with a cc: to Ricardo Coronado:

Ms. Hart:

The college wants to make you aware of the status of your complaint. We will respond as soon as practical, but at this time we are still attempting to interview key people involved. Thus, we do not anticipate completing a response to you until we have all of that information. Because this potentially concerns multiple issues and areas of responsibility, your patience and understanding of the complexity of this matter, is appreciated.

You were thorough in your written complaint, and my assumption is it includes all the details you wanted considered. Additionally, I believe we’ve spoken about the matter by phone. However, if you still feel the need to review your complaint in person, simply call my administrative assistant at 817.515.3015, and she’ll set us an appointment for early next week.

Rusty Fox

Vice-President for Student Development Services

Tarrant County College Southeast Campus

2100 Southeast Parkway

Arlington, TX 76018

817.515.3015

817.515.3177 FAX

Rusty.Fox@tccd.edu

I responded with:

Good Morning, Mr. Fox --

Thank you for the update. No, we haven't discussed my grievance, but touched base briefly on the phone last week as to the expected status of the resolution. However, I too believe that I was thorough in outlining my complaint and have no further need to discuss with you in person. I'm happy to allow the process to work at this time.

I do have a question, though. As the finals are tomorrow, effectively bringing our semester to a close, what happens to my grievance at that point? Does it somehow terminate with the semester's end? What happens to my complaints, against both the mentioned students as well as the mentioned faculty members, when the semester is over?

To a final response of:

The end of the semester does not negatively impact your complaint.

Your grievance does not terminate with the semester’s end.

I thought I was a key person in this since I filed the complaint, but as of yet, no one has contacted me other than this email. Seemingly, no action will be taken against the students since they're free and clear after they complete their finals tonight.

Sad.

Ginger--have other students filed complaints? Every member of that class should be doing what you have done.

Just heard from Frank Griffis, Director of PR and Marketing for TCC. He called. Since I never called the PR Office, the admin offices must be forwarding messages to PR.

He said the situation is "still under investigation" and the university is "not going to get involved" in a "he said/she said" situation.

I asked if TCC plans on interviewing every student who was in that class and he assured me they are. so maybe some of the TCC folk can keep track of this and see if the university actually does?

I also suggested to Mr. Griffis that TCC should be concerned for the physical safety of Dr. Derengowski and the other students in that class.

He dismissed that concern nonchalantly. Clearly, TCC is NOT taking the verbal threats seriously.

Someone needs some education in the Islam-terrorism-Qur'an link.

Yes, a handful of other students also filed grievances with TCC, I'm guessing about six others. We didn't do this collectively, but rather felt so strongly personally about what has happened that on our own, we filed the complaints. Afterwards we realized we weren't the only ones within our class who took that path with administration.

Hello, all --

After two months, I finally have an update. I was contacted last night by one of the news channels who interviewed me originally regarding this issue, asking for my comment on the TCC ruling of our grievances. I had not been informed of a decision by TCC, so was quite caught off-guard. The reporter informed me that TCC has ruled in favor of the two Muslim students, and deemed that Professor Derengowski created a "hostile learning environment" for the two Muslim students.

I was shocked. I emailed Dr. Ricardo Coronado last night to inquire why, after I had meticulously followed their protocol to file a grievance, my response comes from the media rather than from the school. I received an out-of-office from his email stating that he would be out until Friday, January 27th. Convenient, that.

This morning, I immediately called Bill Lanier, TCC HR Director of Employee Relations, to inquire of the same. He apologized for not being able to contact me yesterday before the story came out this morning in the Ft. Worth Star Telegram, saying it was “unfortunate”, but that yes, that was their ruling, and they consider Professor Derengowski as having voluntarily resigned without duress. I asked if I would be receiving TCC's response in writing, as again, following their protocol required numerous written correspondences on my behalf. Mr. Lanier advised that by talking to me, he was delivering the response. I requested a return courtesy of having this sent to me in writing, whereby he said he would "work on" sending me something to this affect.

I continue to be dismayed by the extremely poor handling of all of this by TCC administrators. I don't understand how they can assume any of us will read the paper and consider that our official response of our grievances. This situation should be on Anderson Cooper’s “Ridiculist”!

Although this experience is providing an invaluable life lesson, I continue to be disheartened with the veil that seems to be over the eyes of the administrators. And now, I've reached a level of anger with this situation.

Many thanks,

Ginger