The cancellation of Professor Ward Churchill from the Wayne Morse Law Center conference demonstrates the University’s commitment to allow corporate media to control and direct its decisions. Aside from freedom of speech issues, Professor Churchill’s essay was written over three years ago. He has given numerous talks over the last three years, including in Eugene in 2003. Professor Churchill is not alone in his thinking; there have been numerous critical essays written in immediate response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
We live in perilous times and things only become more perilous with the loss of courage. Professor Churchill’s ideas may be interpreted as incendiary and provocative, yet he deserves to be heard. The cancellation of Professor Churchill highlights for us that the University have lost intellectual courage. Turning away from controversy and argument does not bode well as we battle the affronts of fascism as demonstrated by the passage of the USA PATRIOT Act. We feel that one of the University’s roles is to hold the line against these attempts at intimidation.
Robin Irish
Timothy Jones
Eugene