I read about this story in Inside Higher Ed and the associated story in the Gainesville Sun. (link to Sun story here: http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100920/ARTICLES/100929965/1007/NEWS)
You might have a point about a faculty member's freedom to make legitimate observation about cultural differences in dress/behavior in an appropriate classroom context (i.e., relevant to class content). That interpretation does not fit this situation. This faculty member had a long and documented history of complaints about inappropriate behavior with female students. He had been reprimanded and suspended from employment for past transgressions. When he returned to teaching he was told that any future violations, however minor, would result in termination. Moreover, his comment was made in the context of a university workshop on sexual harrassment at which he was an attendee. He is a professor of food and resource economics. In what way might his comments about women be relevant to his discipline to allow him to claim academic freedom in making these comments in his classes? In what way is this appropriate behavior in a workshop on sexual harrassment? Academic freedom only protects the right of faculty to advocate controversial theories, models, interpretations, etc. *within their discipline. *It is not freedom to use the classroom to advocate for whatever strange ideas and fantasies one harbors in one's private life. He used up his forgiveness tickets. So sad, too bad. Claudia Stanny --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=5062 or send a blank email to leave-5062-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
