Right-wing Texas college president assaults free speech, ignores COVID liberationnews.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from liberationnews.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
When New Jersey-based professor Daniel Kurz learned of the ongoing uproar at Collin College, he felt compelled to write in support of three professors the college had recently let go.
The college had decided to not renew their contracts and a debate soon erupted. The professors and their supporters accused Collin College of violating their free speech rights and effectively firing them. Each had spoken out about the college in one way or another.
One professor, Lora Burnett, had been let go after mocking former Vice President Mike Pence online. But something else caught Kurz’s eye. He learned the other two professors, Suzanne Jones and Audra Heaslip, had been involved in organizing the college’s professors and staff.
‘Fear Is Not a Core Value’: Protesters call on Collin College board to act after 3 professors pushed out
The faculty members had been critical of the school’s COVID-19 plan, free speech issues.
Kristi Lara, with Our Revolution Texas, received a warning from Collin College police Officer W. McNurlen about using a PA system during a protest at the Collin Higher Education Center in McKinney on March. 2, 2021.(Matt Strasen / Special Contributor)
Collin College has a culture of fear and retaliation, speakers told the school’s trustees Tuesday night.
Dozens of professors, students and supporters protested outside of the college’s board meeting, decrying the administration’s decision to push out three professors who questioned the school’s handling of COVID-19 and other issues.
“I may be an absolute twerp on Twitter, but that doesn’t matter,” Burnett said. “My colleagues and I still have the right to express our views.”
Burnett’s dust-up with the school is the latest episode in a battle over speech at Collin College. Many critics have accused the school of abandoning its duty to protect professors’ freedom of speech. Others are amazed: For a campus that’s attracted such bad press lately, it sure seems hellbent on making more.
Last week, the
Observer reported that Burnett has at least one enemy in high places: state Rep. Jeff Leach, a Plano Republican. A record published by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) showed the lawmaker had complained about Burnett in a text message to Collin College district President Neil Matkin.
Fired for Tweeting? A Professor Says She Was Cut Loose in Retaliation chronicle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from chronicle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.