Linfield University in Oregon fired English professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner this week “for cause” and for supposedly interfering “with the university’s administration of its responsibilities.”
The firing comes after Pollack-Pelzner complained about alleged sexual misconduct by a member of the board of trustees. But apparently, an allegation that the school president has made anti-Semitic remarks really set off his superiors.
Maxine Bernstein reports at The Oregonian:
Linfield University fires professor who spoke out against sexual misconduct, raised allegations against presidentLinfield University on Tuesday fired English professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, a public advocate for students and faculty who had complained about alleged sexual abuse by board trustees.Pollack-Pelzner, 41, also earlier this month accused university President Miles K. Davis of making anti-Semitic comments to fend off criticism of how the school handled those sexual abuse complaints. Pollack-Pelzner first shared the allegations on a Twitter thread this month.The university’s human resources manager summoned Pollack-Pelzner to a 4 p.m. mandatory meeting Tuesday and divulged little about the session, saying only that it regarded his “employment,” according to emails shared with The Oregonian/OregonLive.An hour later, the school confirmed it had fired Pollack-Pelzner “for cause,” describing him as “insubordinate” and having “interfered with the university’s administration of its responsibilities.”Pollack-Pelzner said he’s consulting a lawyer and declined comment.
Unfortunately for the school, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has taken an interest in this case.
From the FIRE blog:
Tenured professor abruptly fired after raising allegations of anti-Semitic speech by Linfield University’s presidentA university embroiled in sexual abuse scandals has abruptly fired a tenured professor who criticized the handling of those controversies and alleged that the university’s president and chair of its Board of Trustees made anti-Semitic comments. In the process, Linfield University shamelessly conceded that it afforded the professor no due process, claiming that “termination for cause” does not require due process if the cause is not “related to their responsibilities and duties as a professor.”On Tuesday, Linfield ousted professor Daniel Pollack-Pelzner after he lambasted the college’s handling of sexual abuse allegations and accused college president Miles K. Davis of making anti-Semitic remarks, which Davis denies. Two other faculty members have subsequently come forward with allegations that Davis made similar remarks.Yesterday evening, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) sent an urgent letter to President Davis, calling on him to immediately reinstate Pollack-Pelzner and reaffirm the school’s promises of free expression.“It’s shocking — and telling — that Pollack-Pelzner was forced out without an opportunity to defend himself,” said FIRE attorney Adam Steinbaugh. “President Davis has shown himself to be a bad actor, and this termination is a farce.”
Much of this seems to spring from comments the professor made on Twitter in March:
There’s more but you get the idea.
The professor is lucky to have FIRE in his corner.
Featured image via YouTube.
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