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Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 10:56:05 AM

cyberdude611

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Professor fired over Va. Tech discussion

An adjunct professor was fired after leading a classroom discussion about the Virginia Tech shootings in which he pointed a marker at some students and said "pow."

The five-minute demonstration at Emmanuel College on Wednesday, two days after a student killed 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus, included a discussion of gun control, whether to respond to violence with violence, and the public's "celebration of victimhood," said the professor, Nicholas Winset.

During the demonstration, Winset pretended to shoot some students. Then one student pretended to shoot Winset to illustrate his point that the gunman might have been stopped had another student or faculty member been armed.

"A classroom is supposed to be a place for academic exploration," Winset, who taught financial accounting, told the Boston Herald.
He said administrators had asked the faculty to engage students on the issue. But on Friday, he got a letter saying he was fired and ordering him to stay off campus.

Winset, 37, argued that the Catholic liberal arts school was stifling free discussion by firing him, and he said the move would have a "chilling effect" on open debate. He posted an 18-minute video on the online site YouTube defending his action.

The college issued a statement saying: "Emmanuel College has clear standards of classroom and campus conduct, and does not in any way condone the use of discriminatory or obscene language."

Student Junny Lee, 19, told The Boston Globe that most students didn't appear to find Winset's demonstration offensive.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070423/ap_on_re_us/professor_fired

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 11:15:38 AM

HutchGarahl

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Dang! That's just wrong. I feel for the proffessor. It's a good thing for those kids to talk about what happened. Stopping a discussion about it can only lead to more confusion for the kids and teachers having to deal with it.

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 11:19:58 AM

Celeste43

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It does seem to be in bad taste. But instead of turning it into an issue on gun control, what should happen immediately afterwards is a discussion on the feelings of the students. Because every college student in the nation feels intensely afraid at this moment and addressing that fear would have been much more to the point if you expect them to be able to get past a paralizing(sp) terror and be able to get back to studying.

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 11:20:07 AM

selfbnd411

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Lesson to him: Don't sign anything, don't say anything, don't do anything until you have tenure. We don't know how to deal with diverging viewpoints anymore. Everyone who agrees with me is right. Anyone who disagrees with me is not only wrong, but dangerously so. They must be silenced. That's the attitude, even in academia.

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 12:32:21 PM

Pulpsmack

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This story sickens me, not so much because I sympathize with the point the professor seemed to be making, but the blatant hypocracy that these leftist univerisities excercise.

"Insensitive" pro-gun discourse in the classroom on the heels of V T? fire him.

"Insensitive" pro-terrorist/terrorist-sympathetic discourse in the classroom on the heels of 9/11? Defend him, or disclaim awareness of the subject matter while retaining the raving moonbat.

Consistency: either protect All speech or censor insensitivity/controversy equally

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 4:58:57 PM

Vendaval

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This is very disturbing news. He should appeal the decision
and/or consult a lawyer if he wants to stay or pack his bags
and look for a more open teaching environment.

If his position was an "at will" employment, he has less
legal protection. But there are civil rights attorneys who
might take the case pro bono.

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 7:52:40 PM

Termyn8or

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"look for a more open teaching environment."

Yes, perhaps in Europe somewhere, or Russia or China. Or better yet, Israel. I am not mentioning Austrailia or England, hell he'd be in jail there.

One of these days. they take and taker and take, and it will take for them to take the last little ort for the people to respond. But one of these days, they will.

Perhaps we need another look at Farenheit 451 for guidance.

T

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 9:23:32 PM

kiyari

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What ever happened to the wisdom/notion that it is better to get back up on tha horse that threw ya?

Devolution... the new paradigm

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 9:29:46 PM

popeye1250

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"And then they came for the politically correct and not only did I not keep my silence I told them where to find the politically correct!"

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/23/2007 9:30:57 PM

Jack45

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Colleges, like the media, never permit the 2nd Amendment side to be fairly aired. They are just Stalinist indoctrination centers.

This is the kind of Professor they like.
Cho’s Professor Nikki Giovanni: Teaching Hate At Virginia Tech, by Steve Sailer

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/24/2007 1:38:10 AM

Pulpsmack

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Jack45

Colleges, like the media, never permit the 2nd Amendment side to be fairly aired. They are just Stalinist indoctrination centers.

This is the kind of Professor they like.
Cho’s Professor Nikki Giovanni: Teaching Hate At Virginia Tech, by Steve Sailer

What I love even more is the ACLU's stance...

Freedom of speech violated? I think we have a case!
Equal protection violated? I think we have a case!
Privacy rights violated? I think we have a case!
Due process violated? I think we have a case!
Right to bear arms violated? So fucking what?

Somehow, that one doesn't count with them.

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RE: Prof. fired over discussion of Va Tech massacre - 4/24/2007 2:03:39 AM

LadyEllen

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An unemployed 37 year old male with religious leanings (Catholic) and a penchant for nitpicking accuracy (financial accountant) and few friends (no one at the college anyway)?

He fits the profile for a serial killer. Best fire him as a precautionary measure by the looks of things.

E

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