E-mail Story
Print Friendly
Send E-mail
Reprint story
Friday, August 14, 2009
Scholar Criticizes UNM
By Martin Salazar
Journal Staff Writer
Controversial American Indian scholar Ward Churchill contends that University of New Mexico officials tried to keep him from speaking at a nuclear disarmament youth conference being held at the law school this week.
A founding member of the Rainbow Council of Elders, Churchill wrote an essay after the 2001 terrorist attacks comparing World Trade Center victims to "little Eichmanns," a reference to a Nazi who helped orchestrate the Holocaust.
"It's good to be here, which, as I understand it, we almost weren't because of me," Churchill on Friday told about 50 youths attending the so-called Think Outside the Bomb 2009 National Conference in Albuquerque.
After his speech, in which he contended that American Indians had been colonized, he accused the university of using security concerns to try to keep him from speaking on campus. He said conference organizers were initially told they needed to pay for armed security if he was going to speak.
Ward's attorney and university officials hashed the matter out, and in the end, UNM paid for the unarmed security officers posted outside the lecture hall during his speech. His UNM visit occurred without incident.
Both UNM law school Dean Kevin Washburn and university spokeswoman Susan McKinsey said the university's intent was never to interfere with Churchill expressing his ideas on campus.
"Dr. Churchill is known to be a rather controversial figure, so the law school dean deemed it prudent to have security at his appearance and thought it appropriate that the cost of that security be passed on to the organizers of the event," McKinsey said. "The organizers didn't agree. When the administration finally learned of this, and it was not until late last Friday, they said no. It is not appropriate to pass on this cost."
Liz Woodruf, a spokeswoman for Think Outside The Bomb, said the group operates on a shoestring budget and couldn't afford the $300 to $400 being charged.
"We actually considered finding an alternative location and then realized that it was more important to uphold Mr. Churchill's rights of freedom of speech. ...," she said.
Churchill garnered national attention after the University of Colorado fired him in 2007 over allegations of plagiarism. He claimed he was fired for his political views. A jury found in April that his firing was politically motivated, but the judge refused to reinstate him.
You also can send comments via our comment form
|
|
