The subtitle of this article in the Pioneer Press is “Hamline’s full-time faculty say the dismissal of an adjunct professor has harmed the university’s reputation.”
No kidding. Before this happened, no one had even heard of Hamline University. Now it is known as a quintessential example of academic fascism and Islamic supremacism, of cowardice and kowtowing to “Islamophobia” intimidation.
“Hamline U. faculty call on President Miller to step down over Islamophobia controversy,” by Josh Verges, Twin Cities Pioneer Press, January 24, 2023:
Hamline University’s full-time faculty on Tuesday asked President Fayneese Miller to resign over her administration’s handling of a Muslim student’s complaint about an adjunct professor who showed ancient art in class that depicted the Prophet Muhammad.
Various Hamline administrators have said that what took place in an October art history class was “undeniably inconsiderate, disrespectful and Islamophobic” and “an act of intolerance.” And Hamline rescinded its offer to have the adjunct professor, Erika Lopez Prater, teach again in the spring.
But after a wave of criticism from across the country, Miller conceded last week that she mishandled the episode.
In a joint statement Jan. 17 with the chair of Hamline’s board of trustees, Miller said “sometimes we misstep” and that it was “flawed” to have used the word “Islamophobic” to describe the incident.
On the same day, Lopez Prater sued the school for defamation and religious discrimination in Ramsey County District Court.
Hamline’s full-time faculty held a meeting Monday where they voted 71-12, with nine abstentions, to support a statement calling for Miller’s resignation, according to Jim Scheibel, a business professor and president of the faculty council.
“We are distressed that members of the administration have mishandled this issue and great harm has been done to the reputation of Minnesota’s oldest university,” the statement read, in part. “… As we no longer have faith in President Miller’s ability to lead the university forward, we call upon her to immediately tender her resignation to the Hamline University Board of Trustees.”
The faculty vote is just the latest indictment of Miller’s administration for infringing on academic freedom.
The American Association of University Professors said Monday that it was sending a “committee of inquiry” to Hamline’s campus to investigate the decision not to bring Lopez Prater back for the spring semester.
Meanwhile, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression has been circling the St. Paul private university’s campus this week with a mobile billboard chiding Hamline for censorship. FIRE also filed a complaint with Hamline’s accreditor over academic freedom concerns….
GreekEmpress says
Yes! Support FIRE! Fight back!
Hoi Polloi says
Hamline U. faculty has, with the exception of the wokies who said the mere presentation of an image was “undeniably inconsiderate, disrespectful and Islamophobic” and “an act of intolerance,” some backbone! After this and the Arizona prof who also wouldn’t back down, maybe some more spines will stiffen. Congratulations!
somehistory says
Hoi Polloi, looks as if you and I were thinking along some of the same lines.(backbones)
Hoi Polloi says
Yes; I loved your comment.
somehistory says
🙂 thank you!
Hoi Polloi says
So welcome. I enjoy your thoughts and gracious responses.
somehistory says
Those who fear the anger of mozlums…and other predatory humans…don’t give any attention to the “hurt feelings” of non-mozlums. Imagine if a little plastic, bearded bobble-head was put in a bottle of vodka, and labeled “islam’s prophet on a binge”…how mozlums would go crazy and the “artist” would be hunted with a price on his head, while all those who bow and scrape to mozlums would be calling for the artist’s head….or at the very least, his job and career would be history.
Just let someone do something vile against people of other faiths, and who gets fired?
Perhaps if she is actually made to quit her cushy job, it might enlighten others and give a few backbones a brace for the next insult of Truth to mozlums.
James Lincoln says
somehistory says,
“Perhaps if she is actually made to quit her cushy job, it might enlighten others and give a few backbones a brace for the next insult of Truth to mozlums.”
Great point!
somehistory says
Thank you, James. Your comments on my thoughts are appreciated.
James Lincoln says
You’re very welcome!
Scotsman48 says
MN may well be the first State to have their very own muslim Governor…
Oops wait a minute…
So ONE muslim student gets his/her/they/them wee feelings hurt by seeing an ANCIENT image of muhamad, may piss be upon him, and all hell breaks loose causing the muslims around the entire World to laugh at the weakness of the infidel to stand up for what they believe in.
Im offended by that idea that they/them get offended by ancient Art.
What a shallow fascist religious cult islam really is.
wpm says
If you take ancient art you will be shown ancient art. In main stream Islam any art painting pottery ect. picture of a person ,fish or animal is forbidden .So if you do not want to be shown pieces of ancient art do not take the class! It would be like complaining you were served a pork dish in a restaurant ,but you order the pork dish. Art ,most music, drinking ,pork ,are forbidden in Islam you can as an adult not partake in these things and leave the rest of us to partake them in them in peace.
OLD GUY says
This poor muslim student got his/her feelings hurt from seeing an ancient picture of Muhammad in an art class. How terribly wrong of the rest of the world to have exposed this individual to such a horrible thing. My GOD and I’am not talking Allah, how could the world be that cruel? The Islamic leaders call for the killing, rape and destruction of other religions and societies and do it, and that goes unnoticed. But offend a muslim and all hell breaks out. Whats wrong with this picture?
I’am offended by Islam and their hatred and violence against every other religion. So who’s going to get fired over that?
moqifen says
She wasn’t offended, she knew the college would cave in, so it was a demonstration of power.