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Friday, March 10, 2006

Professor Discretion Is Advised

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is reporting on the case of Professor Karen Murdock of Century College in Minnesota.

Professor Murdock has found herself the latest victim of the cartoon jihad. In what appears to be pure academic interest, she posted the twelve drawings of Mohammad outside her office, along with newspaper articles and blank sheets for student comments. The geography professor was concerned that students were drawing conclusions about the drawings without having seen them—the very same concern the blogosphere expressed about mass media’s coverage of the riots, which largely devolved into nannyism.

The cartoons were torn down. She replaced them. Reared again. The cycle continued until her academic division head removed them. Then the vice president of student services instructed her not to repost them. She was then called to a meeting with the vice president of academic affairs. When FIRE became involved, the college denied the above activities.

So she posted them once more. And as if to put a fine point on the choking effectiveness of fundamentalist Islam and its aide political correctness, Murdock also posted a large flourishing sign warning that the printed material was “controversial” and “offensive”. The cartoons themselves: behind a curtain.

Torn away, again.

Posted on March 10, 2006 11:20 AM. Permalink