AP/ February 19, 2013, 9:26 PM

Columbia professor strips, shows 9/11 tape during class

NEW YORK Columbia University says it's reviewing a science class in which a professor stripped to his underwear and showed 9/11 video footage during a lecture on quantum mechanics.

The Frontiers of Science class on Monday morning with Professor Emlyn Hughes also included two other participants dressed in black, one of whom used a sword to destroy a stuffed animal.

Video of the event was posted to Bwog, the online home of Columbia's monthly undergraduate magazine.

It starts with the professor stripping with his back to the students as music plays and an image of a skull is projected on a screen. Later, two stuffed animals are placed on stools, one of which is stabbed by a person with a sword. In the background, a video shows the fall of the World Trade Center and an image of Osama bin Laden.

A female student watching Hughes could be heard repeating, "What is happening?" as the performance went on.

It ended with the professor returning to the stage.

"In order to learn quantum mechanics, you have to strip to your raw, erase all the garbage from your brain and start over again," Hughes said.

The professor didn't respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

In a statement, the university said, "Universities are committed to maintaining a climate of academic freedom, in which the faculty members are given the widest possible latitude in their teaching and scholarship. However, the freedoms traditionally accorded the faculty carry corresponding responsibilities."

It added, "While one must exercise caution in judging excerpts from a lecture or short presentations from an entire course outside of their full context, the appropriate academic administrators are currently reviewing the facts of this particular presentation in quantum mechanics."

© 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
15 Comments Add a Comment
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moonglow525 says:
Actually, I thought it was pretty damn funny. Whoever complained is probably the very one who has child porn on their pc, cross dresses in secret or looks through a peep hole somewhere. These are people attending college. They've seen a heck of a lot more than a man in his drawers.

I would have loved to have been in that class. Nothing like ingenuity I say. Great learning tool.
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lorne46 says:
I wanna go to Columbia so badly!
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pdchapin says:
Obviously the guy felt the class needed to be shaken up a bit and tried something dramatic. If it did work what's the complaint? If it didn't work I would assume he wouldn't do it again. That's better than the prof who simply reads the same lecture every year while the students all fall asleep.

BTW DJB5000, if you've never wasted 10 minutes in a class you're not lucky, you're lying.
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tonic16612 says:
The professor did nothing lewd. and he had on more clothing than many at the beach. He was trying to make an impression on his class with something fun. So really what? Jeez, loosen up and enjoy life. What is wrong with America? Has everyone become so straightlaced that this is really newsworthy... what happened to the 1960s gemeration? Did they all die or are they the ones on the Board judging the professor?

We are all going to die one day...can we have a little fun first.. please try to smile today and relax a little.
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tonic16612 says:
The professor did nothing lewd. and he had on more clothing than many at the beach. He was trying to make an impression on his class with something fun. So really what? Jeez, loosen up and enjoy life. What is wrong with America? Has everyone become so straightlaced that this is really newsworthy... what happened to the 1960s gemeration? Did they all die or are they the ones on the Board judging the professor?

We are all going to die one day...can we have a little fun first.. please try to smile today and relax a little.
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unclec18017 says:
See the video, if it's not removed by the time you try to see it.

"Frosh Science Gone Wild"

http://vimeo.com/59932634
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unclec18017 replies:
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Sorry, it's "Frontiers of Science" Gone Wild...
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unclec18017 says:
Just add music to the prof's video - Patsy Cline's "Crazy"....
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snowcap12 says:
Leftist learning looney.
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Mikzy says:
Tenure...
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jrwilsonjr79 replies:
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Precisely...
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rh0123 says:
Gee, I teach quantum mechanics, and I've never stripped during class. I must be doing something wrong.
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tipper111 replies:
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Bet your class is a rip-roaring interesting time. You must be one of the student favorites with your sense of wit.
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