Muda69 Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2019/11/21/indiana-university-professor-eric-rasmusen-defends-tweets/4259448002/ Quote The Indiana University professor under fire for using social media accounts to denigrate women, people of color and gay men is defending himself in a lengthy rebuttal posted to his personal website. Eric Rasmusen said that university administrators, who have condemned his beliefs but defended his First Amendment right to express them, overreacted. Provost Lauren Robel said in a letter posted to the IU website that Rasmusen would not be fired "for his posts as a private citizen, as vile and stupid as they are, because the First Amendment of the United States Constitution forbids us to do so." Rasmusen, a professor of business economics and public policy at the IU Kelley School of Business, said that if the university changes its mind, it would be "a big deal" and the institution would lose in court. A professor at IU since 1992, Rasmusen came under fire this week after a popular Twitter account posted a screenshot of a tweet from Rasmusen in which he shared an article titled, "Are Women Destroying Academia? Probably." In the tweet, dated Nov. 7, Rasmusen quotes a line of the article that says "geniuses are overwhelmingly male because they combine outlier IQ with moderately low Agreeableness and Moderately low Conscientiousness." The account, @SheRatesDogs, has more than 400,000 followers. A university spokesperson said they are aware of various complaints against Rasmusen over the years, including a 2003 incident in which he published a blog post contending that gay men weren't suited for certain jobs, such as teaching, preaching and elected posts, because they are "moral exemplars." In addition to a brief media statement in which he accuses the university of encouraging bias and condemning a "dissident professor," Rasmusen posted a separate response, challenging sections of Robels’ letter. He defends his use of the word “slut,” stands by his position that gay men shouldn't teach because they prey on students (but says that the risk can be worth it at the college level) and calls affirmative action corrupt. ... Rasmusen is currently teaching one course and had 20 students enrolled at the start of the semester, according to IU spokesperson Chuck Carney. While the university does not plan to fire Rasmusen, officials have said they will "ensure that students will not be harmed by the biases that could underlie the judgment of this professor." The university will be conducting a review of Rasmusen's courses, looking for the influence of bias and will allow any students who wish to do so to transfer out of his courses. The university is also instituting double-blind grading, where assignments are submitted anonymously to him. Rasmusen said the efforts to protect students from bias are actually encouraging it, "even requiring it, as a condition of teaching." "There are views you're not supposed to express, even outside of class, and God help the conservative student whose professor checks Facebook and Twitter before grading term papers," Rasmusen said. Rasmusen said he's had Christian and conservative students "shyly approach" him and say they were happy to find a professor open in his beliefs. Umm, are not the individuals who attend Indiana University adults, and should be expected to defend themselves against being "harmed by biases"? Methinks this one course may be the last Mr. Rasmusen teaches at IU Bloomington. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muda69 Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 (edited) https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/suzette-hackney/2019/11/21/hackney-bigoted-indiana-university-professor-does-not-belong-classroom/4259245002/ Quote The First Amendment gives me the right to say this: The Indiana University professor who posted racist, sexist and homophobic views on his social media accounts is a bigot who should no longer be permitted to teach. Actually no, Ms. Hackney. In the context that you published this commentary it is the Indianapolis Star, a private entity and your employer, that allowed you to voice your opinions on this matter. The government, and therefore the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, has nothing to do with it. Indiana University, being a public entity, has to follow the First Amendment. The Indianapolis Star does not. Frankly IMHO this simple, basic, misunderstanding of the First Amendment calls her entire little rant into question. Edited November 21, 2019 by Muda69 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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