No, not that president. I’m talking about Fayneese Miller, the president of Hamline University, a small liberal arts college in Minnesota. There has been an ongoing controversy and she has finally written a statement in response and I have words. It began back in October when Erika López Prater, an art-history professor, showed her class an image of the Prophet Muhammad found in a famous 14th-century Persian manuscript. Because many (but far from all) Muslims believe that showing Muhammad’s image is sacrilegious, the professor took precautions. In her syllabus, she warned that she would be showing this picture. On the day of the class in question, she gave the students a few minutes heads-up, describing the image she was about to show. Because class that day was being held on Zoom, it would be easy for any student who wanted to avoid the image to turn their screen off or simply walk away. Then she showed the image. After which everything blew up.
I wonder if, had the professor been Muslim, would this be a story? Probably not because by virtue of them having the “correct” identity, there would be no judgment.
The tenure argument is truly awful. I’m lucky to have it teaching high school and it provides some leeway. Of course, no teacher wants to harm their students. The idea children know they can get professors fired by going to admin is disgusting.
Many executives at the tops of all variety of institutions have become sociopathic in their ineptitude, whether clinical sociopaths themselves or not, it's the attitude of the institution that is, and they fall in line.
Good stuff!! This statement is beyond awful. Honestly, unsurprising that it is given previous statements and actions. Interesting that after opening with how the media got it wrong, she never actually provides evidence that they did!
I wonder if, had the professor been Muslim, would this be a story? Probably not because by virtue of them having the “correct” identity, there would be no judgment.
The tenure argument is truly awful. I’m lucky to have it teaching high school and it provides some leeway. Of course, no teacher wants to harm their students. The idea children know they can get professors fired by going to admin is disgusting.
Many executives at the tops of all variety of institutions have become sociopathic in their ineptitude, whether clinical sociopaths themselves or not, it's the attitude of the institution that is, and they fall in line.
Good stuff!! This statement is beyond awful. Honestly, unsurprising that it is given previous statements and actions. Interesting that after opening with how the media got it wrong, she never actually provides evidence that they did!