LATEST SUBMISSIONS

Churchill's clouded comeback

Saturday, October 6 at 12:00 AM

By Jessica Peck Corry

You’ve got to give credit where credit is due. Ward Churchill is a man who will not give up. While the University of Colorado spent more than two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to kick him off its Boulder campus, he’s back — now teaching an unsanctioned class that espouses the same discredited “facts” that got him fired in the first place.

To Churchill’s misguided minions, he remains a hero in the crusade for academic free speech. Too bad they believe the First Amendment only applies to those who support their shared perspective. At a Tuesday evening lecture, titled ReVisioning American History: Colonization, Genocide and Formation of the U.S. Settler State, only those with favorable perspectives were allowed to attend.

Two male organizers who doubled as bouncers turned away at least three male students, calling them “agitators.” At least one of the organizers also scuffled with a Boulder Daily Camera reporter who tried to enter the lecture.

Ultimately, only 30 or so attendees — mostly bright-eyed followers drinking way too much of the Churchill Kool-Aid — made it past the screening process and inside the door to the classroom in CU-Boulder’s Eaton Humanities Building.

In a written introduction to Tuesday evening’s lecture, as reported by the Camera, Churchill was not compensated for his time leading the first of what he hopes will be an ongoing course. It will carry no academic credit and, according to the introduction, is “in no sense bound by the rules supposedly governing courses offered in the university catalogue.”

While Churchill’s actions as a disgraced former professor are certainly free from the confines of a simple course catalog, they are not free from the requirements of university policy governing public accommodations. CU specifically prohibits discriminatory actions by those hosting events anywhere on its taxpayer-funded campuses.

University spokesman Bronson Hilliard emphasized to the Camera that the event was “private” — which is allowed under university policy — and yet the exclusionary tactics used Tuesday night raise serious concerns about the actions of Churchill and his supporters.

First, even if the event was booked as “private,” university policy still dictates that event organizers must not discriminate against people on the basis of a variety of protected characteristics — including their creed or basic set of core beliefs. And second, while “private” event organizers are allowed to ban the media, why would they? What has Churchill got to fear by respecting the free speech rights of others, including reporters? If he believes in the power of his positions, he should welcome all willing to hear them.

This all reminds me of a lesson that CU should have learned years ago. In 2003, the university came under public scrutiny after the Independence Institute revealed that CU students were using university rooms to host racially segregated events. While the discrimination then was based on race — and Tuesday’s was based on ideology — the intent of organizers remains the same: Segregation is OK as long as they’re the ones perpetuating it.

Ultimately, students of all perspectives can — and should — be able to host controversial on-campus events at public universities, including the University of Colorado. In doing so, however, they are rightly prohibited from excluding those who might look or believe differently than they. Perhaps this is a little detail that Churchill left out of Tuesday evening’s syllabus.

For those who missed out on Tuesday’s event, there is good news. According to organizers, he will be back at least three more times in the next month, with future sessions focusing on colonialism, genocide and racism. But if you happen to disagree with him, just hope that you can get a foot in the door. Body armor may be a good idea.

Jessica Peck Corry is the director of the Independence Institute’s Campus Accountability Project. She can be reached at Jessica@i2i.org.

READER COMMENTS

Looks like the smoke signals have yet to reach Michelle's reservation...she still thinks that WC is a real American Indian and a genuine spokeperson for, and an authentic representative of, American Indians. This has all the earmarks of excessive peyote inhilation. Better step out of that teepee, Michelle, and grab a breath of fresh air.

Apparently WC is not the only local member of the famous "Lost Fugawi" tribe.

Posted by Hank on October 11, 2007 11:05 AM

Michelle,

Actually, your ancestors most likely came from the steppes of Asia and are of the mongoloid race. And it goes back from there. So what? Races have been conquered throughout history and displaced by various other races. That happens.

As to contributions? Thanks for the corn.

Let me guess, 40acres is spouting the lie about 55% of all KIA were black in Vietnam. From the .gov web site, it was 12.6%. Another lie from 40acres.

So, Let's see, you are defending a dude, who is not even Native American, has lied about that., plagiarizes and creates phony authorities to justify his lies. Congrats! Kind of like having Louis Farakhan as the White Man's representative.

Posted by Dravur on October 11, 2007 10:06 AM

"There is a tactic I never thought of; Talk only to those who are already in agreement."

Yeah, sounds like a George W. Bush publicly-funded town hall meeting. Funny, never heard Corry whine about the exclusion of people from those evnts.

Posted by Peckerhead Corry on October 11, 2007 12:32 AM

Oh, I suppose you all still think Natives still ride horses, live in tepees, and hunt buffalo! We all still love to live on the little pieces of land that was so generously given to us!
The only people that really don't believe this and would enjoy talking about it is the enemy. Come on now, when are all you supposedly "Americans" going to embrace our part of American History and our contribution to this country? Probably never because we are the invisible race, make believe to your children(never the mind that our children go to school with yours!), and you are ignorant to any subject that you really don't know anything about! If you don't want to know Native American History don't make rude comments. It just makes you look like an ignorant racist! By the way, my ancestors were born here, how about yours? I've got my birth cerificate. I'm legal.

Posted by Michelle on October 10, 2007 11:38 AM

Let me guess, 40acres/draftskippy is back with his racist rantings.... yawn. I stopped reading his idiotic "writings". Anyway.....

Who cares if WC comes back to speak to a bunch of like minded morons. He has been shown to the VAST majority of the people to be a complete fraud, a plagiarist, a bully, et al. His credibility to anyone with a luke warm IQ or above is completely lost

He has been marginalized and has about as much clout in the world as a cheeseburger. So, let him blab to like minded whackos. This is a non issue.

Posted by Dravur on October 9, 2007 02:28 PM

Member of the famous "Lost Fugawi Tribe," like Churchill, are known for their persistence. After all, when your birth certificate is a phony, you simply have to try that much harder!

Posted by Hank on October 7, 2007 09:27 AM

RS - If CU students invite you to speak at CU, then you too can speak at CU. Churchill was there by invitation from CU students. The students who organized it have the option to have either an open or closed meeting according to CU regulations. They chose closed, as was their right. Read CU's policy:

http://www.colorado.edu/policies/facility_use.html

Joe - the only person who came anywhere close to trespassing was the reporter who broke into a closed event that was closed to reporters. Closing the event to reporters was the right of the student organizers per CU policy. Read the policy.

It is interesting that so many folks on chat boards and in the press advocate silencing Churchill. This after all the loud proclaiming that Churchill wasn't being fired to silence his political views, but because of his research.

Since he has now been fired, why are all the usual suspectes now bent on blocking his words from being heard? I thought everything was just about his research. Which is it? Do you want to silence his words, or did he conduct sub-standard research?

This whole outrage over him voicing his free speech will just help his efforts in his lawsuit against CU. It will help him show he was silenced, and continues to be silenced for his opinions he speaks, not his research. I invite the press and bloggers to keep it up if your intentions are to assist Churchill in his efforts to prove he was fired to silence his political views.

Posted by Pablo B on October 6, 2007 11:43 PM

Churchill should be arrested and charged with public stupidity. Those going to his rabble rousing clinics should be charged with the same. Everyone knows that the man is a proven liar, he is certainly no hero to anyone, and association with him is a complete waste of time.

The bigger idiots in this picture are those at CU that are allowing Churchy to use university facilities. They should be charging him with trespassing instead.

Yep, you guessed it. I don't like the man and think everyone would be better served if he soon crawled in a hole and died. But what skunk would want him?

Posted by joe on October 6, 2007 09:09 PM

Hey you "phony sailor"...get back on your meds. Wow, your wacked and possibly dangerous. Yes, you Tenant...

Posted by Golden on October 6, 2007 02:55 PM

For those without a Navy background, LDO is often referred to as Loud, Dumb and Obnoxious.
Unfortunately, in my 24+ years, I met many who fit the title all to well.
You, sir, strike me as a very, very angry person.
Might I suggest the VA hospital in Denver? You appear to need some anger counseling.

Jim in Erie
EOC(SCW), USN Ret.

Posted by Jim in Eire on October 6, 2007 11:59 AM

Jessica,

Great exposure of the hypocrisy comrades! The issue of continuing taxpayer support of these hate-filled viewpoints is a real concern. Why does Churchill's "ethnic studies" department continue to exist at CU? Where is the respect for the rights of taxpayers? It seems if they can hold such exclusive private events in university classrooms, that ANY of us should be able to as well!

Posted by RS on October 6, 2007 08:48 AM

Quite a rant there
Mr. Pickedalongnicksoitwouldbehardforpeopletorespondto

You could not justify with factual data a single assertion. The fact that you did not know that it is GHWB, as in Herbert Walker, says it all. You attention to detail is only surpassed by your ability to piss yourself in a fit of rage.

I am very happy that there are a long list of people who make you angry ( you may add me). That we annoy you is the sole responsibilty of none other than yourself.

Your life is very sad.

Posted by VB on October 6, 2007 08:16 AM

There is a tactic I never thought of; Talk only to those who are already in agreement. CU might want to monitor this however, they might be talking about more than just their agreement. Seems like a forum that just might seek revenge.

Posted by VB on October 6, 2007 08:03 AM

YIKES! That "sulphur" really stinks. I love Ward Churchill. I am thankful he served in Vietnam. One less black man was killed there. While I was serving in my 3 deployments to Vietnam, I could have used the help of the phoney GOP patriots and draftdodgers like Bush, Lott, Owens, Cheney, Rudy, Mitt, phoney Fred, Allard, Shamnesty salazar, Quayle, Lamborn, Tancredo (homo-phobe), BoPeep (couldn't pass "gas", Boehner, McConnell, Delay, etc. This band of brothers, unlike Ward, pimped and exploited black men. 55% of the "soldier-draftees" killed in Vietnam (in-country), were black, while we only comprised 12% of the nation's entire population.

Vets sometime eat their young. Owens (NAM deferred by Bush-Klan-congressional page)used Hank Brown (Vietnam vet) to railroad Ward. This is a known GOP tactic. They used the Swift-Boat-Sailors for the nonTruth, to nail Kerry (I saw him in NAM). They also smeared Daschle, Kerrey (NAM leg amputee), and Cleland (NAM triple amputee).

The "Dixiecrats" are too wimpy to nail Bush and Alito. Bush and Alito are both UCMJ-felons; AWOL, deserters, and guilty of illegal separation and discharge. They forged, falsified, and perjured their military discahrge documents. Old Man Bush went a step further. He violated Truman's executive order, which "desegregated" all of our military units. GWHB "resegregated" all of our military units when he carved out a NAM sanctuary slot for "W" in the racially segregated Texas Air National Guard (violated Civil Rights Act of 1964 too).

Every rich white officer that served in this Guard unit, "dead or alive", should be investigated to determine if they too are UCMJ-felons too. I challenge the lack of "backbone" crowd (Caplis, Gunny Bob, Hannity, O'Riles, Rosen, Lim(P)baugh, Kristol, etc.) to report the truth, regarding Bush and Alito. It is clear from Alito's online "bio" he blew off his 11 year military obligation using the guise of him being a federal law clerk. Federal law clerk isn't mentioned in my copies of the UCMJ and Manual of Court Martial. Therefore, Alito and Bush should meet at the altar in SuperMAx.

The "MT" suits and dresses that comprise the NAACP and Congressional Black Caucus-CBC-comical blacks in congress, should join forces with DNC (did nothing for coloreds) and court martial Bush/Alito.

James J. Tenant
Lt. Commander, USN, LDO, Ret.

Posted by draftdodgingisntafamilyvalue on October 6, 2007 07:55 AM