Teacher Known For Nazi-9/11 Remarks Fired

U. Of Colorado Prof. Ward Churchill Axed For Plagiarism; Likened Sept. 11 Victims To "Little Eichmanns"

(AP)  The University of Colorado's governing board on Tuesday fired a professor whose essay likening some Sept. 11 victims to a Nazi leader provoked national outrage and led to an investigation of research misconduct.

Ward Churchill, who had vowed to sue if the Board of Regents took action against him, said immediately after the 8-1 vote was announced: “New game, new game.”

Three faculty committees had accused Churchill of plagiarism, falsification and other misconduct. The research allegations stem from some of Churchill's other writings, although the investigation began after the controversy over his Sept. 11 essay.

“The decision was really pretty basic,” said university President Hank Brown, adding that the school had little choice but to fire Churchill to protect the integrity of the university's research.

“The individual did not express regret, did not apologize, did not indicate a willingness to refrain from this type of falsification in the future,” Brown said.

Churchill's essay mentioning Sept. 11 victims and Nazi leader Adolf Eichmann prompted a chorus of demands for his firing, but university officials concluded it was protected speech under the First Amendment.

Brown had recommended in May that the regents fire Churchill after faculty committees accused him of misconduct in some of his academic writing. The allegations included misrepresenting the effects of federal laws on American Indians, fabricating evidence that the Army deliberately spread smallpox to Mandan Indians in 1837, and claiming the work of a Canadian environmental group as his own.

But the essay that thrust Churchill into the national spotlight, titled “Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens,” was not part of the investigation.

That essay and a follow-up book argued that the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were a response to a long history of U.S. abuses. Churchill said those killed in the World Trade Center collapse were “a technocratic corps at the very heart of America's global financial empire” and called them “little Eichmanns.”

Churchill has said Eichmann was a bureaucrat who carried out policies like the Holocaust that were planned by others but was still responsible for his own actions.

Churchill wrote the piece shortly after the attacks, but it drew little notice until 2005, when a professor at Hamilton College in upstate New York called attention to it when Churchill was invited to speak there.

In the uproar that followed, the regents apologized to “all Americans” for the essay, and the Colorado Legislature labeled Churchill's remarks “evil and inflammatory.”

Bill Owens, then governor of Colorado, said Churchill should be fired, and George Pataki, then governor of New York, called Churchill a “bigoted terrorist supporter.”

School officials concluded Churchill couldn't be dismissed because he was exercising his First Amendment rights. But they launched the investigation into his research in other work.

A faculty committee and an interim chancellor recommended Churchill be fired. When a second committee reviewed the case, three of its five members recommended a suspension. The other two said he should be fired.

Churchill remained on the university payroll but had been out of the classroom since spring 2006, first because he was on leave and later because the school relieved him of teaching duties after the interim chancellor recommended he be fired.

The lone no vote on Tuesday came from Regent Cindy Carlisle, who was not immediately available for comment.

[honest_news]

***Posted*** ***by*** ***tonyryan28***:
&***quot***;***Those*** ***most*** ***opposed*** ***are*** ***manifestly*** ***almost*** ***illiterate***...&***quot***;

&***quot***;***manifestly*** ***almost*** ***illiterate***&***quot***; -- ***Tony***'***s*** ***trying*** ***very*** ***hard*** ***to*** ***sound*** ***manifestly*** ***almost*** ***intelligent***.

***Posted*** ***by*** ***tonyryan28***:
&***quot***;***It*** ***illudes*** ***Churchill***'***s*** ***critics*** ***that*** ***about*** ***80***% ***of*** ***the*** ***world*** ***agrees*** ***with*** ***his*** ***general*** ***conclusion***...&***quot***;

***I*** ***think*** ***you*** ***meant*** &***quot***;***eludes***&***quot***;, ***Tony***. ***But*** ***what*** ***do*** ***I*** ***know*** -- ***according*** ***to*** ***you*** ***I***'***m*** ***manifestly*** ***almost*** ***illiterate***.

***Posted*** ***by*** ***tonyryan28***:
&***quot***;***The*** ***real*** ***and*** ***horrific*** ***problem*** ***is*** ***that***, ***on*** ***the*** ***global*** ***literacy*** ***scale***, ***the*** ***US*** ***is*** ***39th***.&***quot***;

&***quot***;***Horrific*** ***problem***&***quot***;? &***quot***;***Global*** ***literacy*** ***scale***&***quot***;? ***Let*** ***me*** ***guess***, ***Tony*** -- ***you*** ***have*** ***a*** ***BA*** ***from*** ***the*** ***U*** ***of*** ***Colorado*** ***with*** ***a*** ***major*** ***in*** ***English***.

***LMAO***

[tonyryan28]

Comments about Churchill say more about the speakers than the target. Those most opposed are manifestly almost illiterate; whilst those vaguely or wholly supportive provide inarguable evidence they have some ability to comprehend international events.

It illudes Churchill's critics that about 80% of the world agrees with his general conclusion, and the Nuremburg Trials confirmed the Eichmann principle of shared guilt. The real and horrific problem is that, on the global literacy scale, the US is 39th. Illiteracy is the genesis of ignorance; leading to the extraordinary statement about Venezuela being a dictatorship. CBS readers, just why is the world praying fervently for Impeachment of Dirty Dickie?

[sharncedar]

If the firing was reasonable, why do they have to lie about, and claim it is for something other than the 9/11 comments. A good rule of thumb is if you find yourself lying about what you are doing, it is most likely immoral. If you lie about that girl at work to your wife, chances are it is not an innocent situation. If you lie about how many beers you drink each night, chances are you have a problem. If you lie about firing someone, saying you did it for some other reasons, chances are you didn't have a good cause for your actions.

You are "little Eichmanns" precisely because you believe in lying about your conduct, punishing people for their free speech yet too cowardly to admit it. That's a little Eichmann if I ever heard of one. Congratulations. Now go to church and tell yourself what a good person you are.

[kailumego1]

He should SUE, SUE, SUE,this isn't the first time I've heard a college professor speak in antagonism against the U.S. government as blame for 9-11.

His writtings allowed students to critically think and not accept everything this government and its leaders report.

[speakinup]

We have been taught in business to assume our co-workers are not misbehaving, rather they are in need of training.

I suggest that if Ward would like to teach again, he should go to a society that truly is lead by a dictator. Live there, for say 10 years, so he can pick up the true 'flavor' of what it is like to be pushed around by the type of people he claims we are, then he can come back a speak with either authority, or he can lie again, only this time with full knowledge of what the idiot is saying! Give Venezuela say 2 years - it should be ripe by then.

[perimogi]

Teacher?

[michellem99-2009]

Dears,He is not the only one lied to get where he is if he did lie. How do we know who is telling the truth in the govt, we don't. I was raised to not lie. It will come out. We have a free press as that was the doing of Ben Franklin as that was one of his platforms. It is not right to sanitse it to fit a few who get upset that this/that happen. Life. Life is not pretty. Teachers should know how to teach if not they don't belong in the classroom. Why should we pay for teachers unfit and I don't care what grade.

[tibu987]

Noggin check I think.
When one begins to be on the losing side of a situation they begin to rant and rave with irrational thoughts.
Churchill should make an appointment with his shrink for some help.
'Nuff said.

[speakinup]

You know what, redhoffer, I really don't believe he was fired for the plagiarism either. What's more, I don't care. He decided to be anti-social at the University's and public's expense, and while he may have been within his rights to do what he did, they were within the rights to do what they did; and, I'm within my rights to say he's a jerk for it and deservered what he got.

Just as I would NOT have suggestted to Mr. Churchill that he yell the 'N' word in Harlem NY in 1968. I don't care if he had tourettes' syndrome or not, he'd still get punished for his actions.

What goes around, comes around. TOUGH C R A P.

[tibu987]

It is unfortunate that this forum has so many writers that use it for many things that do not pertain to the issue at hand. Dissing each other, writing something that is irrelevant to the issue, leaves a lot to be desired.
There is no way to put an end to it. Those alarmists, rascists, those that delight in seeing their rantings in print, leaves little room to rationally amd intelligently espouse your views.
Freedom of speach, yeah, right.
And so it goes...........

[redhoffer]

While I disagree with the entire "Little Eichmann's" concept that Churchill wrote, he does have many points that US agression has led to many in the world wishing us harm (see invasion of Iraq, our abuse in Latin America, etc.).
He is also 100% accurate that we intentionally spread disease and were largely genocidal in our treatment of the Native Americans, that is really beyond doubt.
So, I agree with some of his points, disagree with others...
What is horrible is that he was attacked for having an unpopular viewpoint. There must be protection for those who want to express their viewpoints. He was attacked for having a view different that the mainstream.
A big problem here is that this could be the start. If the Right disagrees with views you express, they have the power to take you out.
So what if you think his views are bad? He should be able to write about them particularly in an academic journal.
The whole plagiarism and allegations about his ancestry were ***, and we all know it.
It is pathetic he was fired for that ***.
At least be honest and admit you fired him for his views, if you can't be straight up about that then clearly you shouldn't have fired him.
I hope he winds up owning Colorado U. when this is all over.

[jimmyc1955]

Mr. Chruchill wasn't fired for his opinions or even his class room content. He was fired because he lied on his application and he took other peoples academic work and claimed it as his own. Or to put it another way - he didn't, and couldn't, do his job.

". . . faculty committees accused him of misconduct in some of his academic writing. The allegations included misrepresenting the effects of federal laws on American Indians, fabricating evidence that the Army deliberately spread smallpox to Mandan Indians in 1837, and claiming the work of a Canadian environmental group as his own."

It is his job to get facts straight - and instead he made up "facts" to justify unproven claims.

As much as some want this to be right vs left or white vs. native American - its much simpler. He lied and got caught.

[michellem99-2009]

Dear, I am 52. Your grandparents/parents paid to educate every child here. You believe it. But and I do use BUT..I would feel differenly if was/is fair to us who are disabled. I am sorry but I would not have a problem with paying it if the teachers are worth that pay. I wanted to learn as a child. The Word I always heard* Barbara you can't this/that.* I was so sick the word can't as IT was used due my gender,blindness,C/P, hard of hearing etc as I was a foster child on of it. I started school at 10 and in special ed and the teachers failed to teach me .Back then there was no ada law so since they would not school me right so that I could read,write,etc as my peers I feel educationlly handicapped . So my room mate tryed to tell me. When I went SCHOOL I had to be there as the law said. I was denied large print. I went to in small towns I was the only blind & multihandicapped and they were was NOT going waste money on a girl who would marry. Well I never married. This was in 60s and 70s. Girls were home makers, Mums. I was pissed. Pissed at the school system and the foster homes. So my friend felt computer would show me how poorly school, It did. No I not want the rich to have everything. I hate greed.

[lmb0370]

There is a term most appropriate for what the US Government did to many Native American tribes: Human Genocide

Being of native american descent, I can assure you that Mr. Churchill was not making false accusations, or stating a truth not found in history books. My people suffered horrible injustices at the hands of the US Government, "and still do today".

And where is the crime in exercising his first ammendant rights? Reporters do it all the time.

And where is the crime in teaching "truth" to our children?

And even if Mr. Churchill did not accurately point out some facts, HE'S STILL EXERCISING HIS RIGHT FOR "FREEDOM OF SPEECH". And what is the school really saying by firing him?...We all know that sometimes the truth hurts.

I do not in anyway justify the 911 attack on the US. The act itself has propelled me to step back and look at everything from every angle possible, so that I can "understand" why this happened, and my guess is that Mr. Churchill was doing the same thing, and expressing his own view on what he sees. It doesn't make him right, nor does it make him wrong; it makes him human.

I wish Mr. Churchill well in his lawsuit.

[rwassel]

"Coulter and other entertainers are there simply to entertain and to "shock", if you will."

Posted by mike71067 at 09:49 AM : Jul 25, 2007

Thanks again for clearing everything up, mike. So if I do something to be shocking, such as kill someone, that's fine. But if I'm a professor and kill someone, that's terrible. I'm so glad to know that entertainers are exempt from any form of punishment. Were you also one of the "Free Paris Hilton" people? And I'm guessing you're also a big Mel Gibson fan as well.

Its not liberal vs. conservative, mike, it's about being fair. Both Ward and Ann said terrible things about 9-11 victims, and both should face consequences.

[tibu987]

It seems to me that the man, Churchill, is in need
of some psychological help. When people begin spouting off on things, like comparing vitims of 9/11 to Eichman's, is outside the norms of rational thinking, something is wrong in the old noggin.

[rwassel]

"The 911 victims are all tragic, but the payout to victim's families was outragious. Other than police, fire and rescue workers, the other victims were no more deserving of special compensation than if they'd been hit by a bus."

- Posted by FightTheLeft at 09:40 AM : Jul 25, 2007

How very Christian of you...keep on "fighting the left" with these values and ideals.

[honest_news]

Has the preoccupation with "equal opportunity" at our colleges and universities become so all-consuming that they will blindly employ a scam artist with few academic credentials -- and grant him tenure in short order -- simply because he falsely claims to be part Native American?

Exploiting its obsession with minority hiring, Churchill took the University of Colorado for a ride, ensuring his niche by becoming an boisterous activist for "his" people -- the ultimate liberal fail-safe. It wasn't until his bluster became so crude as to equate victims of 9/11 to Nazi war criminals that the university finally began checking this con artist's academic credentials and scholastic integrity -- something they should have done before Churchill was hired.

Shame on the University of Colorado for its prejudicial hiring policies and lax oversight of teaching staff. Double shame on Cindy Carlisle, who still voted to keep Churchill on the payroll even after proof of his academic misconduct and fabrication of evidence had been proven.

[speakinup]

"Good riddance to bad rubbish." One_American

A-men, brother. Oh, I'm SO sorry, I probaby offended every lefty out there, but hey, that's freedom of speach. Tough.

"Churchill may have it right:" gkc99
Nope - he's as far left as the scale goes gkc99, except from your perspective, which is just a smidge further to the left.

[jimmyc1955]

gkc99 - Churchill is not a native American - The following was posted by the radical American INdian Movement - not a conservative group by any stretch of the imagination;

"Churchill has long been a divisive and somewhat feared figure in Indian country, especially among his former colleagues in the American Indian Movement. Some prominent activists involved in earlier confrontations have devoted a great deal of energy to investigating his claim to be an American Indian himself and have found no evidence to support it."

So he lied to everybody about his background, his academic credentials, his accomplishments and stole much of his academic work. Other than that he is a paragon of truth and virtue.