Jury Is Still Out on OCC Professor

Re “Teacher’s Terrorism Remarks Stir Academic Freedom Debate,” Sept. 30:

The Times article on professor Ken Hearlson’s suspension contains a serious error. It claims that the suspension “opened a rift between administrators and faculty”--implying a clean split. In fact, a great number of the faculty, including me, view the administration’s action as appropriate.

The college acted swiftly and reasonably to the allegation that this professor blasted students with the accusation that they are terrorists responsible for the deaths of thousands on Sept. 11. He was suspended with pay and is innocent until proved guilty, but the process was put on a fast track to avoid confrontations that might have resulted in violence.

The college engaged an outside investigator to ascertain the facts and an attorney, in case one is needed. Most of the faculty, I believe, are content to await the results of the investigation before rendering a judgment. If Hearlson was trying to elicit rational thinking from his students, he can be accused only of thoughtless timing, following so closely upon the tragedies in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania. It certainly wouldn’t be cause for dismissal.

However, should it be determined that Hearlson was using his classroom as a bully pulpit from which to humiliate students, it would be an abuse of academic freedom. Censure or dismissal would be appropriate, depending upon what the investigation revealed.

Alan Remington

Professor of Music

Orange Coast College