Unfortunately, David Horowitz may win on this one

[Nikki Stone 1]

The latest from our merry maniacal meddler....

Emailed July 27, 2005

Ruth Malhotra wants to thank you. You don't know who she is, but believe me, you've had a hand in helping her win a battle in our NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM.

Like so many -- too many! -- young conservative students in America, Ruth found herself being singled out for abuse by a professor who simply hated Ruth's political views. Ruth -- an A-student at Georgia Tech -- mentioned to her professor that she was going to attend the conservative conference sponsored by C-PAC in Washington, D.C.

Without batting an eyelash, the professor told Ruth "Well, then, you will probably fail my course." Can you imagine the arrogance and sense of superiority this professor must have assumed when she unflinchingly told Ruth she was going to see to it she failed?

She proceeded to give Ruth "Fs" on all of her work ­ papers, tests, quizzes ­ and eventually forced Ruth to withdraw from her class.

Thanks to you, though, Ruth was able to fight back! First, Ruth reached out to the Georgia Tech Chapter of Students for Academic Freedom (SAF). SAF chapters are on more the 200 campuses across the country, created as part of our NATIONAL CAMPAIGN for ACADEMIC FREEDOM ... you've played a powerful role in this!

I went to Georgia to join in Ruth's cause. I took her to the governor's office and asked them to help. I went to the Dean of Diversity and said, "You claim to teach respect for difference. Will you defend Ruth?" The Dean said she would. Together we scored two victories: Ruth was allowed to retake the course under a different professor, and the professor who tried so hard to punish Ruth for her political views has been banned from teaching in the Public Policy Department!

Ruth Malhotra's story is just one of the many triumphs our Campaign has witnessed. But we're still engaged in a true fight where we face entrenched leftist professors and administrators who brazenly espouse a sickening anti-American propaganda...

* University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill called the men and women who died in the World Trade Centers on September 11, 2001, "little Eichmans" - linking them the one of Adolf Hitler's most vile henchmen.

* One professor at Bowling Green University found out one of his students was in the ROTC program and proclaimed that the student's uniform was a symbol of "the imperialist monster." He refused to let the young man drop the course and then failed him.

* A Columbia University professor told students at a "peace" rally that "the only true heroes were those who found ways to defeat the U.S. military." He said he wished American sons and daughters in uniform would "suffer a million Mogadishus," referring to the ambush of American soldiers in 1993 and made famous by the movie "Blackhawk Down."

It will take continued courage and resolve to bring true balance to our campuses again. That's precisely why I'm writing you today. Will you stick with me? Will you gird us again as conservative students across America ready for a new academic year?

Perhaps you can afford the Campaign a gift of $50 again. If possible, an increased gift of $100 would be fantastic. Regardless of the amount, however, your generosity is genuinely appreciated - and much needed.

Throughout the letter I've provided blue links for you to access and stand with me and the NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM. My hope is that you'll take a moment now and recommit to this powerful project. Thank you and God bless you and your family.

Sincerely,

David Horowitz, President & Founder

P.S. Take a look at the nice "thank you" note from Ruth Malhotra. You can take pride in the fact that you played a role in that triumph. And, if possible, lend your support to CSPC's NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM today. Thanks again.

The Ward Churchill stuff and the peace rally statements are covered by academic free speech and should not be stopped or punished, as distasteful as they might seem to conservatives. (I believe this is Horowitz's real goal.)

But, any professor grading students based on their ideology and not their work should be punished. This is not common, but the idea that it is being done at all is alarming. I'd like some documentation on this, so if anyone from Georgia Tech is out there and knows anything about the Malhotra case, I'd appreciate the info.

[formerrepuke]

1. It sounds like B.S. - like most of what Horowitz says. I'll believe it

when a non-Horowitz source confirms that such a thing has happened. I also see that he managed to squeeze a monetary plea into his 'story' as well. I have to believe that such treatment of a student solely based on his/her ideology would get much larger media attention.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Consider the source!

Yes, let's see some documentation on this one, especially given that David Horowitz's group is seeking donations and isn't exactly, shall we say, unbiased. It is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility that something like this might actually happen and if it REALLY did, then anybody doing it should be punished, however I SUSPECT that cases like these are exceedingly rare, or at least not as common as Mr. Horowitz and other conservative commentators like to try to make it out to be. It will be interesting to find out what REALLY happened in this case.

[Nikki Stone 1]

3. I am. That's why I am asking for documentation

But I have a feeling that something of the sort did occur. I'd expect Georgia Tech to respond otherwise.

[Nikki Stone 1]

5. Unfortunately, an internet search turns up only Right Wing sources

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22Ruth+Malhotra%22+Georgia+Tech&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-pull-web-t&fl=0&x=wrt

[TwentyFive]

4. Typical Horowitz scare/anger propagenda. What is the professor's NAME?

Right wingers play their followers like fiddles. To believe this shows how gullible conservatives are. No professor would give an 'A' student poor grades, just because they don't have the correct political views.

And - do you really believe any professor would be dumb enough to ANNOUNCE to a politically active conservative that she will be failing the course, simply based on her politics?

[Nikki Stone 1]

6. None of the right wing sources give a name

I am looking for independent verification

[Nikki Stone 1]

9. This story is actually a year old. The alleged abuse took place in 2004

Ruth Malhotra was head of the college Republicans. One wonders if she deliberately provoked this. Around the same time of the alleged abuse, the Georgia State Legislature was considering the Academic Bill of Rights (horowitz's baby) and passed it.

[bballny]

15. we should all send them enlistment papers-n/t

[hughee99]

44. How does any student "deliberately provoke" a professor

into giving grades based on their ideology? I can see where they might provoke the confrontation, but not the resulting grading issues. If the student was deliberately not doing the homework/classwork correctly that is something that can be easily shown, but how could a student force a situation where they hand in otherwise acceptable work and be given a grade of "F" strictly based on their beliefs?

[Nikki Stone 1]

45. If the prof decides the student is being disruptive, that needs to be

handled administratively, not through grades. But in the university, a professor CAN grade on classroom participation, and if the student is continually disruptive, this can very negatively affect the classroom participation portion of the grade.

[Nikki Stone 1]

46. IT seems this prof WAS provoked. (From SAF's own website!) Prof's name

protected by confidentiality agreement. (see below)




http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org/archive/April2004/gatechprofcausesstudent042104.htm

Prof Causes Student to File Grievance

By Joshua Cuneo--The Technique, 04/16/04

Georgia Tech became a hub of political controversy last month when Ruth Malhotra, a second-year International Affairs student, filed a grievance against one of her professors for political discrimination.

According to Malhotra and others in her Public Policy class, the students were engaged in a political debate over President George W. Bush's health care policy when the professor said, "You don't know what you're talking about. George Bush isn't doing anything for you. He's too busy pimping for the Christian Coalition."

It was that incident that prompted Malhotra to file the grievance, although she explained that the professor's comment exemplified the political bias that she felt had permeated the class all semester.

"She's frequently told the class...including myself, 'You're ignorant. You don't know anything,'" Malhotra said, adding that the professor would often stereotype conservatives, Christians and southerners "in a very derogatory manner...I felt the attacks were getting worse."

Malhotra's actions generated opposition from some of her classmates, such as John Putrich, a second-year International Affairs and Earth and Atmospheric Sciences major. Putrich had a different take on the incident, saying that the class provoked the professor into sharing her views when she was trying to review for an upcoming test.

"She seemed kind of frustrated with not being on task because of the test the next day," he said.

Furthermore, he added, she was trying to make a point regarding political parties and debating an issue in the real world. " would make a statement that was obviously a partisan platform, and she would respond to it from the other side," Putrich said. "They would get mad because she was disagreeing with them, they had no basis to back up. She was showing them...in the real world, if you make a statement about policy, you'd better have something to back that up with."

Both versions of the story are supported by other members of the class. The professor, whose name is protected by Tech's confidentiality agreement, was unavailable for comment.

While student academic grievances are normally filed and investigated in strict confidence, Malhotra has found herself in the spotlight as a player in the larger issue of intellectual freedom on college campuses.

She testified before the Georgia Senate in support of SR 661, the Academic Bill of Rights, which formally discourages discrimination against students due to their political or religious beliefs.

"While need their freedom...to be creative and original...the imposition of strong political biases becomes a pattern...that stifles freedom and creates hostility within the class," she said.

Putrich, however, is among those who oppose the Academic Bill of Rights. He and others fear the movement may place damaging restraints in the classroom.

"Groups of students who don't like a particular professor are going to find a way to...prove that they're going against this freedom act," Putrich said. "In principle, a good idea, I think that it's an unnecessary bill."

Alex Suarez, a third-year Public Policy major and SGA Public Policy representative-elect, has a more middle-of-the-road opinion. "I think it's a good movement so long as it doesn't devolve into a witch hunt for the professors on either end," he said.

The bill was authored by David Horowitz, who made headlines in 2001 by denouncing reparations for descendants of slaves. He has since founded a national organization called Students for Academic Freedom, which dedicates itself to opposing what it perceives to be increasing political bias on college campuses. Malhotra is presently involved in starting a chapter at Tech.

Malhotra captured further attention when the Atlanta Journal-Constitution publicized the incident in an article on March 25.

Putrich, who saw the article, co-authored an editorial in the AJC in response.

" will create a stigma of 'If you're a conservative, here's one less place for you to go to school,'" he said. "We didn't really think that was fair to the school or to students."

"I believe completely misrepresented both the general issue of academic freedom and the specific facts of this particular case...and a lot of what they said isn't true," Malhotra said in response. "My concerns have never been a personal issue...and I not instigate the situation...We only responded when the professor herself would bring up a topic or issue for discussion."

But Putrich emphasized that he's never noticed any apparent bias. "I've never encountered a situation where I've felt that the professor...needed to punish me for my views because of what I would say in class," he said.

Suarez agreed. "I disagree with some of my professors, but it never affected my grades," he said. "That's what I think the main criterion there for determining whether bias exists."

But it does exist, Malhotra said. "Ever since I came to college, I've noticed a bias either in the way the professor conducts the class the skewed selection of textbooks."

Backers of the Academic Bill of Rights have focused on discrimination against conservatives by liberal professors, but Malhotra said the political affiliation of the professor is irrelevant.

"I'm not here to say 'fire all liberals,'" Malhotra said. "One of the most effective professors I've ever had is also one of the most left... she conducted her class very objectively, fostered discussion and debate, encouraged dissent."

However, Putrich did praise Malhotra for taking action against a perceived wrong.

"She filed a complaint, and that was her right, and that was...the correct way of doing things," he said. "Government is voicing your opinions, and she voiced her opinion. The tragedy of this situation is that it ended up...in the press."

The investigation into Malhotra's grievance is still pending, but Suarez assures that " done everything they needed to, from what I understand."

"It could be that this is an issue of miscommunication, and if it is, then that can be taken care of," he added. "If there's malice behind it, then there's other ways of taking care of that."

[hughee99]

52. I see where the confrontation was provoked, but...

I still don't see where the professor was provoked into giving the student "Fs" on all of her work papers, tests, quizzes.

As for the quote:
"Putrich had a different take on the incident, saying that the class provoked the professor into sharing her views when she was trying to review for an upcoming test."

Either the professor was willing to debate the topic or not. If the professor chooses to debate the student in class, that's fine, but the professor is participating in the debate, the student isn't the only one to blame for distracting the class from the review. If the professor felt that the review was more important than the debate, then the professor should have ended (or postponed) the debate and continued on. If the student still chose to be disruptive then the professor can take the appropriate action to remove the student.

In the end, the professor has control of the class. If the professor is willing to debate, you can't blame the student for participating, and you shouldn't punish the student for it either as long as nothing "over the line" was said, and I haven't seen any claims that this was the case.

[Nikki Stone 1]

55. If one or more students are hell-bent on provocation, it is very hard to

move the class back on topic. I have taught for 14 years and under those circumstances, I might have had to end the class early to avoid the battle. (Meaning, of course, that the other students would miss their test review, which is not fair to them.) In my opinion, it is bad etiquette and wrong for students to interfere with the teacher's job. In a high school, you can send the offending student(s) down to the counselor or assistant principal. At a university, one can only call security, and that is only done for truly dangerous situations--one student threatens another, etc.

I honestly think that this girl was part of a group that targeted this professor in the spring of 2004 when the Georgia State legislature was taking up David Horowitz's proposal. The object was to create enough of an issue that could then be brought to the state assembly's debate on Horowitz's proposal.

The student (Ruth Malhotra) was an international relations major--this is Horowitz's favorite major to attack, especially profs that show any sympathy for the Palestinian cause. This student's initial complaint was about comments her teacher made, not about getting Fs or being forced to withdraw. As someone who was forced to withdraw myself (see the car accident story above), I have sympathy with any student who feels there is no other choice. But there isn't any statement by this girl that "F" grades were her reason for the grievance. That would be the FIRST thing you'd put on a grievance. That would cause it to be taken seriously.

[hughee99]

50. I agree on this...

Certainly the professor had every right to negatively affect the students classroom participation grades. At least according to the OP, though "She proceeded to give Ruth "Fs" on all of her work ­ papers, tests, quizzes..." and non of this should be affected by classroom participation.

[Nikki Stone 1]

51. Yes, That is the part I am worried about and am trying to find documented

somewhere. Anywhere. Even in the SAF's on files, I don't find it. That's why I am so frustrated.

If it's a matter of speech, then it's the university. Free speech--real academic freedom--needs to happen. But, when it's messing with a student grade, that's completely wrong.

And yes, professors sometimes do that in an autocratic way. I was once in a very bad car accident and missed 2 weeks of class as a result. (My leg had been lacerated and I had a concussion and memory loss.) My music professor--who graded entirely on attendance and class participation--reduced my grade from an A to a B- just for missing class due to my car accident. I had a doctor's note, a surgeon's note, a police (accident) report, and a receipt from the hospital. It didn't matter. He still dropped my grade. Because I had two more doctor's appointments scheduled during class time, I eventually had to drop the class entirely because I couldn't afford a "C-" on my GPA.

So I know that professors can do really arbitrary and unjust things. That is what I am trying to ascertain here. Did this prof just run her mouth (admittedly after some provocation) or did she indeed play with Ruth's grades out of malice? That's what I need to know. The first is regrettable but not a major issue. The second is actionable.

[hughee99]

53. Admittedly

I haven't been able to find anything more on this from a reputable website so I'm just basing my opinions on what is posted here. If more or different information were to come to light as to why the student was receiving "F's" then I'd be more than willing to take that into account.

[Nikki Stone 1]

54. Of course. There isn't enough info, and there is a legal agreement

in place so that the university probably can't say much. Horowitz can spin it any way he likes. I haven't seen any place where the girl herself talks about having to drop the class--only that the prof's comments upset her.

It makes it hard to know what to think.

[warrens]

16. If this was true, he'd have named the professor

Sounds like an urban legend in the making.

[Nikki Stone 1]

24. Not necessarily. Part of the legal agreement might have involved

sealing the name of the prof involved, especially since the whole incident seems to be a "she said, she said" issue.

[procopia]

7. I'd like to hear the other side

For one thing, D.H. doesn't mention that the student was going to miss class to attend the CPAC conference. Also:

"Georgia Tech spokesman Bob Harty said school policy barred him from disclosing how Malhotra’s grievance was decided, but he said many of the facts in the case are open to interpretation."

http://www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0408/15/a04-241380.htm

[Nikki Stone 1]

36. Yes, these both good points. Missing enough class can result in an F

I am looking for the details and can't find any. It's incredibly frustrating because I need to be able to counter this.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Sounds like a load of hooey too me. No teacher worth his or her salt

would do this sort of thing.

[Nikki Stone 1]

11. The Detroit news has an article, but no name and nothing different

http://www.detnews.com/2004/schools/0408/15/a04-241380.htm

[navvet]

27. Hate to disagree with you but I saw it first hand

up close and personal at the UW Parkside campus in the mid 90's.

Sad but true I saw a GOP type have his support of school choice/vouchers used against him by a professor in the education school where he was trying for a state certification.

It was made worse by the professor being a african-american female and the student was a white male.

He left the school convinced he could not win the fight, and embittered about things racial.

I don't know much of his other background, but he never seemed racist or biased just conservative.

I wonder about it when our side acts like that.


He never to my knowledge contested what was done to him.

**Side note: The Dean of the Education School latter on made very inflamed remarks in the Racine newspaper about not wanting White males in the education school ahead of minorities. The dean was african-american and female for what is worth.


There was also conflict between the history department at Parkside and the newly appointed chancellor at the time who was also african-american and female.

I have always wondered about all of this.

[tishaLA]

56. Fascinating

Why, one might think that African American women are all-powerful in academia and are castrating white men at every turn.

How exactly was this white man oppressed in his support for vouchers? And I seriously doubt your account of the Dean's remarks without some kind of source to back it up. And what precisely was the conflict between the history department and the chancellor? Let me tell you before you answer: that's what we do in academia. We fight amongst ourselves. Over small things.

In other words, I find your post suspect in a variety of ways.

[navvet]

58. The Dean of the Educaiton School at that

time was Dr. Barbara Shade and her comments were made in the Racine Journal Times in late October and early Noeember 1995.

The chancellor (newly appointed was Eleanor Smith) her Phd thesis was being questione by the history department due to perceived lack of academics.

I know this to be a fact since I was studying in the history department for a BA and several profssors I was friendly with were unimpressed by scholorship of both the women in question.

Ths man was a friend of mine and served with me USN and he is not a racist.

Question me if you would like to, but I was there I saw it with my own two eyes.

[Yupster]

59. Well yeah

No teacher worth a damn would do this, but unfortunately there are teachers, and doctors and lawyers and generals and waiters who aren't worth a damn. We pretty much all know that.

[Nikki Stone 1]

60. True. Some profs can be very autocratic; but I'm still not satisfied

that grades were given on an ideological basis. That is my real concern here. Profs are always going to run their mouths. Sometimes you agree, sometimes you disagree, and sometimes you don't know what the hell they are trying to say and you just nod and pass the test.

But grades are an entirely different matter.

[Vickers]

10. This should be all over the news, and I can't find it ANYWHERE!!!

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[Vickers]

12. From Yahoo People Search: "Sorry, we didn't find any people matching..."

"...Ruth Malhotra"

Apparently, Bill Clinton has already had her eliminated. :(

[Nikki Stone 1]

19. Try this

Try this

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22Ruth+Malhotra%22+Georgia+Tech&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fl=0&fr=FP-pull-web-t&b=1


or this:

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=%22Ruth+Malhotra%22+&ei=UTF-8&fr=FP-pull-web-t&fl=0&x=wrt

[Nikki Stone 1]

31. Here is HER PROFILE at GEORGIA TECH

Ruth Malhotra
SECRETARY

3rd Year
Activities and Interests: President of Catalyst Ministries, Chair of College Republicans, Publicity Chair of Women’s Leadership Conference, Secretary of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity, Alpha Delta Chi Sorority, Student Alumni Association, The Swarm, International Affairs Student Organization, Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society. Interests include US Politics, international travel, community service, Cuba Study Abroad. Interning Fall 2004 with Bush-Cheney Campaign.


(This profile certainly explains her involvement with this particular "crusade" of Horowitz's.)

link:

http://sab.iac.gatech.edu/members.html


Edited to remove personal info

[rinsd]

33. Get rid of the personal info....

...even though it is posted public. Do not post a non-public figures e-mail address. The profile and link to it are fine.

Sorry if that sounded moderator-ish but these things can get ugly.

[Nikki Stone 1]

38. Oops! Will do.

I thought I had cropped around it.

[Nikki Stone 1]

13. Me neither. It's seems to be a year old story connected with Horowitz's

political campaign to get the Georgia Legislature to approve his misnamed "Academic Bill of Rights" in 2004.

I cannot find the name of the prof anywhere, and the Dean seems to indicate that many of the details are open to interpretation.

It's not enough just to laugh at it, however. It needs to be effectively countered.

[Coastie for Truth]

14. Grades based on being "Born Again"

I had a Prof (Engineering Drawing 101-102 REQUIRED FOR A DEGREE) who only gave honor grades to students who attended his 7:30 AM Prayer Sessions on weekdays plus attended his church (where he was Preacher) on Sundays.

So it's not aLiberal thing.

[Nikki Stone 1]

20. That should have been fought if the school was a state school

Did anyone fight it?

[Coastie for Truth]

35. Prestigious private university

funded by the Mellon-Scaife family. Ultimately the course was changed from "required" to "recommended elective" - and nobody elected it.

[Nikki Stone 1]

39. Got it..

Good that they changed it.

[rinsd]

30. "So it's not aLiberal thing."...exactly

Its a close minded thing. Its a superiority thing.

Its just wrong, whether left, right or in between.

[Nikki Stone 1]

32. I agree

That's why I am worried about this story. There's always one problematic person who can destroy everyone else.

[union_maid]

17. I don't believe this for a minute

Maybe something happened to do with her political activities and her grades, but I'll bet it was nothing like the way it's laid out here.

[Nikki Stone 1]

22. We are trying to find the real story. So far, we've drawn a blank

Every source is biased to the right, and even the Detroit news used the same wording as the SAC press release.

But it is important to get the real story. Otherwise, this goes unchallenged. Belief is not enough.

[endarkenment]

47. You cannot get the real story if it doesn't exist.

The fact that the only information out there is regurgitation of Horowitz's nonsense ought to tell you something. You can't really ask for proof that something hasn't happened. Instead the proof that it has happened is required, and in its absence, without other supporting evidence, argues strongly for disbelief.

[Nikki Stone 1]

48. But there is written proof that something DID happen

And if you read the SAF's own website, they don't come out terribly nice in it. They clearly badgered the hell out of GA Tech over an incident, though it seems that the incident only involved a few comment. The issue I am concerned about is the one I can't find any documentation for: the GRADE. So far, I have found support only for some comments having been made.

See this link:

http://www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org/actions(boxattop)/Georgia%20page/Schools/Georgia_Tech/GAtechMcMathresponsetoSAF.htm

The letter from the Provost says it all.

[endarkenment]

18. sorry but...

you have learned that this is total bullshit, right?

Next time consider the source. If it is whore-o-witz it lacks credibility.

[Nikki Stone 1]

26. No, in fact I haven't learned that this is total bs. What is your source?

Have evidence and provide it if you want to be taken seriously.

[Old and In the Way]

21. They'd out the professor in a heartbeat if this was true.

Someone should check the registrar's office and see if this person even audited the course. I'd love to see this debunked...it would underscore just how bankrupt Horowitz's campaign really is.

[Nikki Stone 1]

25. Not necessarily. See post #24

nt

[Nikki Stone 1]

49. Post #46: Prof's name PROTECTED by legal agreement

And the prof seems to have been provoked

[element23]

23. this sounds like

complete bullshit.

His use of unsourced anecdotal stories about leftist professors and persecuted ROTC kids is almost as stupid as carrying on about fighting 'leftist professors and administrators who brazenly espouse a sickening anti-American propaganda' while claimig to care about freedom.

[Nikki Stone 1]

28. The story does show up on a yahoo search.

SOMETHING seems to have taken place. Ruth Malhotra is a real person. She seems to have gone to a Christian academy for high school and then onto Georgia Tech to become chairman of the college Republicans. The story was reported by a Detroit newspaper. The rest of the sources are right wing, so it is impossible to verify facts.

[Nikki Stone 1]

29. CAN SOMEONE HELP ME RESEARCH THIS?

I have GA Tech's website and this search:

http://search.gatech.edu/custom/query.html?col=cc&col=rgstr&col=alumni&col=library&col=students&col=gatech&col=math&qt=%22Ruth+Malhotra%22&charset=iso-8859-1

[VOX]

63. I searched Lexis-Nexis thoroughly, and there's only one hit...

And it's the same one that's been posted, the one from early 2004, originally published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. There's no new or additional information available. :(

IMO, this was a manufactured event, typical of Horowitz's group. I'll bet the ranch that Ruth Malhotra had an intent to cross that professor, with the idea of becoming a "victim" for her cause.

We've seen other right-wingers pull these "poor persecuted me" stunts, a la Phil Parlock getting his GOP paper signs torn at Democratic rallies, and it "made his kids cry," etc.

[Nikki Stone 1]

71. THANK YOU for checking!

I am in agreement with you that this was a manufactured incident, especially since it coincided with Horowitz's "Academic Freedom" bill being brought in front of the George legislature at the same time.

It's the part about the grade that worries me. There seems to be no proof of that and the fact that Horowitz can use the grade issue without fear of reprisal means that Georgia Tech has been muzzled by legal agreements.

[Kalish]

65. call up the school, call up the professor....

[RaleighNCDUer]

34. If this really happened, wouldn't we have heard about it in the

'liberal' media, rather than only in a fund-raising pitch for Horowitz's little fascist group?

[Nikki Stone 1]

37. I have put a number of links on this thread. The story is out there

but we seem not to have enough details to make sense of anything.

[Nikki Stone 1]

40. Nothing on FAUX or CNN

Am searching local network affiliates

[Nikki Stone 1]

42. The remark may have been a joke?

http://www.campusreportonline.net/main/articles.php?id=88

"....In my own experiences recently, I have numerous personal examples of specific instances where this has been the case. When I told a professor that I would be leaving that week to attend the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., she replied, “Well, you’re just going to fail my class.” After noticing the confusion in my face, she laughed it off, which led me to believe that she wasn’t serious. However, I think that such a comment was inappropriate, regardless of how it was intended. I know that my experience on campus has not been an isolated occurrence, but that unfortunately such situations are prevalent...."

[RaleighNCDUer]

66. I'm thinking that Horowitz took some real incidents, twisted and

distorted them (naw, he's never done that before) and used them for his sales pitch.

Here, he took the off-hand comment of the professor and the piece written by the student and forced it into litigation with the school. Both the teacher and student knew it was not a threat, but the school got scared and forced a settlement, with a caveat that they couldn't talk about it, allowing Horowitz to spin it any way he wanted.

This is not unlike the other example of the Columbia professor supposedly wishing a million Mogedishus upon US troops -- I distinctly remember, before the war, an Egyptian diplomat warning that if the US invaded Iraq, the result would be the US suffering 'a million Mogedishus'. No doubt, the professor was simply quoting the diplomat, but far be it from Horowitz to allow the truth to get in the way of a good story. Horowitz is a Straussian asswipe, and the only time you can trust what he says is when he is saying nothing at all. And you should have reservations even then.

[mrdmk]

41. Here is another problem and that is students are suffering from

push grades, that means that students are being passed with a higher grade than they deserve. The student gets to an advanced class and fails after having 4.0 GPA all of their lives. Better schools and parent involvement would cure this. Better education in this society will cure a lot of other matters also.

[Nikki Stone 1]

43. I agree completely, but that doesn't seem to be the case here

I almost wonder if the kid was a plant, considering her affiliations. But the prof had to have said something problematic to get the university to actually look into the grievance, which they did.

[mrdmk]

57. That is hard to say, although we do need to understand that some

Christen Religions these days are on a mission.

The R/W Fundamentalists want prayer and Christen Theological views of mans coming to earth in public schools. The Fundamentalists also want vouchers (tax payers money) to pay for parochial schools (religious schools) as a way to improve education.

We all know that "No Child Left Behind", is a way to make underfunded schools pay a price for just being where they are (also a way get military into high schools). The standardized test is also a joke. The reason I say that is because people are looking at a country like Japan and wonder why they test better. Just maybe it is because there society is less complex than ours with our ethical melting pot that we have. Maybe the reason started in the year 1851 when schools at that time were design to making converts of society with minimal education (or just enough to be productive at a job of sorts) to keep upper, middle and poor classes of society apart from one another.

Besides how times have you ran into somebody that you know goes around saying thank God for this, or thank God for that, or I will pray for you or any other references to their religion that seem over the top. Some of these people want God to direct them 360 degrees 24/7 and all people around to do the same, even strangers, not to mention their college professors. It is to unholy for them to phantom that maybe somebody in their presents do not believe in the same God that they do.

[Nikki Stone 1]

61. Yes, the Christian Taliban ARE on a mission

To destroy women's rights for one thing. And to destroy freedom of thought and action.

[Nikki Stone 1]

62. kick

:kick:

[Kalish]

64. If it happened it's a crying shame but I have my doubts

he provides no evidence of it actually occurring. We know how right wingers operate. They lie and distort. That's a given. Just today there was the debunking of that right wing email about the Koran and some kind of eagle-destroyer, and yet the right wing contiunes to pass that lie around.

[Nikki Stone 1]

69. There IS evidence in various parts of this thread if you read it.

That is why I am worried. It seems that Horowitz and his organization of neocon kids had one of their number badger a professor when she was trying to prepare her students for a test in the spring of 2004. They got her off balance, and she said something about George Bush's health care plan that upset the little neocon girl who asked the question. The girl filed a grievance. The professor also (unwisely) joked that the girl would fail her class since she was going off for a week to support the Bush campaign in 2004.

But, from what I have read, no changes were made to this girl's grade. No unfair grades were given. THAT is the charge that gives Horowitz's mailing its bite. If it were just a matter of academic speech, that's just a matter of opinion. But student grades are a whole different matter.

There is ample evidence that the Georgia Tech dealt with the problem. The SAF (Students for "Academic Freedom" ) actually had the letters from the Provost on their website. And the SAF came out looking pretty bad in them. The Provost had to send 3 responses to this group, each one more exasperated than the last because the SAF seems to have been unable to understand what the Provost was saying. Read the letters--it's clear what this SAF pressure group was trying to do.

But there is NO evidence that the girl's grade was tampered with or affected. In the end, the school dealt with the problem, allowed her to retake the class (she withdrew from the first one) and punished the prof involved, though by legal agreement they cannot release her name.

[sunnystarr]

67. This is part of the R agenda ... Hannity frequently asks

students to contact him of any teacher/professor bias, promising to help them overcome any "injustice" in academia.

It's part of the plan to get all liberal bias out of academia. Anything that they don't agree with is considered liberal. If they can influence young people they believe they'll create more Rs. The push for "balance" that we've already seen with media is the vehicle to change our institutions of learning.

After that expect book burnings as they look to balance philosophies in our libraries.

This is a methodical take over aimed at eliminating liberal and progressive thought and action.

It won't belong before they come for us if we don't fight.

This is war.

[geek tragedy]

68. Horowitz is a liar, so I'll need a lot more proof before believing

something like this.

[kwolf68]

70. Well well well

I am convinced I received a "C" in a course because of a dingbat Right-wing prof...It was an argumentation course and the grading was very subjective, but have credible evidence that those doing poorer than I was received better grades simply because my position papers didn't jive with the profs position.

When discussing Trade in one of my papers the professor actually wrote on my paper "Not all corporations are baby killers." I had to LMAO at that one, because I never wrote anything that could be remotely construed to advance that perspective.

Whatever the case, I got a "C"...my GPA took a very tiny hit (too meager to care), I bitched a lot, but moved on...I have far more important things to do....99% of all profs will grade fairly no matter their viewpoint.

I also saw a Right-wing prof argue with a student on abortion...it was a disgraceful exercise...At the time I agreed with the guy, because that was back when I was a righty...I remember I was taking a class from a Liberal and I was espousing all kinds of right-wing nonsense and was treating with total respect....the prof even liked me because I was engaged. He graded me fairly in my view (B+) and would grade my papers well, but give me strong feedback on how to argue my point...NOT ONCE did he ever challenge my point...only how I was expressing it.

I probably gained unknown respect for Liberals from that experience and that likely started my path toward the left...who knows...

[Nikki Stone 1]

72. That's EXACTLY the way a prof wins respect

Good story. And I am more inclined to believe that the right wing types are guided by their propaganda when grading than liberals, who are usually very careful not to grade the ideas but the argumentation.

[ieoeja]

74. Grading the argumentation IS biased against the Right

I frequently argue politics in the bar with Righties. I rarely provoke any of them near the point of the violence. Almost every time I have provoked them near that point it was not when I was arguing against them, but when I argued in favor of their point. And it is because of the manner in which I argued in favor of their position.

Liberal argumentation questions virtually everything. Conservatives believe. This can be a patriotic belief as much as a religious belief. But it is a belief. And so Righties usually throw in as many arguments as they can in support of their position and leave it at that.

If this woman did nothing but toss out arguments that supported her position without ever addressing counter arguments or possible flaws in her arguments, then she would have earned her failing grades. That would be just as true of someone on the Left end of the political spectrum as on the Right.

Consider that a link provided to this discussion says the class was about evenly divided between Liberals and Conservatives. But she is the only one to have gotten a failing grade. Did the other Conservatives simply go ahead and write their papers arguing in support of the professor's opinions? Or did they write their papers using good argumentation to back up their opposite position? I would bet on the latter.

[Catrina]

73. This should be easily checked

since the student's name is known. Horowitz (has that man EVER told the truth about anything?) says clearly here:

She proceeded to give Ruth "Fs" on all of her work ­ papers, tests, quizzes ­ and eventually forced Ruth to withdraw from her class.

Since the woman can be cantacted, as can Horowitz, and he, on her behalf, is making this claim, I see no reason not to contact both of them, asking for the papers marked 'F'.

An email to him should produce the evidence since the claim is made publicly ~

I find it hard to believe that any professor in his/her right mind would fail someone on all of her work, papers, tests, quizzes because of a political difference. That, if true, should end the professor's career. And I feel certain, that that is exactly what Horowitz would demand, if it were true.

In fact, I would want such a professor fired, no matter what side of the political spectrum s/he was on. It would be disastrous to allow such prejudice to be a part of our system of education. I am amazed, quite frankly, that there were no cries for the ousting of such a person.

I would email him, explain that his story seems to be unverifiable by the usual methods, other than that an incident of some sort occured. But, I would refer to the most serious charge he makes, and ask to be directed to the 'F' papers (they need to be authentic, btw) he claims she received ~ I would make the same request of the student also.

I would also say in the email, that if I do not get a response in x number of days, I will take it that no such evidence exists and will be publishing the results of my 'investigation' online.


One of the stories above, reminds me of an urban legend I saw recently, seems so similar, the one about the liberal prof. wishing death and destruction on US troops. A Columbia U. prof no less! No names, no links, just his little anecdote. I wonder what CU might have to say about this. It might be worthwhile to forward that claim to them.

He does know how to press the buttons of the rabid rightwing and get them to send him money, doesn't he? It's instructive to remember the lies he told leading up to this war ~

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

75. Jesus. That story is SO over the top it makes my heart happy.

For it can't possibly be within a trillion parsecs from truth.

[kodi]

76. and, and that prof was a lesbian, baby killing anti-christian crackhead

what did i leave out?

arrested for littering?

whoro-witless is a schmuck, he's as clean as the gross and gunky stuff that grows under the lip of a toilet bowl in yankee stadium.