VICTORY AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE: APPOINTMENT OF PROPALESTINIAN ACTIVIST RESCINDED!!!
Click here: Brooklyn College Rescinds Appointment OF Pro-Palestinian Activist – Maggie’s Farm http://maggiesfarm.anotherdotcom.com/archives/16452-Brooklyn-College-Rescinds-Appointment-OF-Pro-Palestinian-Activist.html
DEAR E-PALS: HERE IS A VICTORY THANKS TO BRUCE KESLER WHO “OUTED” KRISTOFER PETERSON AND ALL OF YOU WHO RESPONDED WITH LETTERS TO THE CHANCELLOR…..WELL DONE! RSK
Brooklyn College Rescinds Appointment OF Pro-Palestinian Activist
I wrote on January 19 about the appointment at Brooklyn College, my alma mater, of a pro-Palestinian activist – just 1 ½ years into his own PhD studies — to teach a graduate course on the Middle East. After that the New York State Assemblyman of the district adjoining the college protested in a letter to the college president and copied the Chancellor of the City University of New York (who had also received letters of protest from other influentials).
In reviewing Mr. Petersen-Overton’s writings and professional background, I was alarmed about the slanted nature of his works, as well as what can only be termed as his use of hateful invectives against the State of Israel….Moreover, Mr. Petersen-Overton’s course syllabus reads like a Who’s Who of Palestinian sympathizers and historical revisionists, with no equitable counterbalance….The responsibility of a true academic is to remain objective in imparting information and to allow students to draw their own conclusions. Instead, Mr. Petersen-Overton’s required and recommended reading selections intentionally stifle the passionate discourse of students who would challenge his political ideologies….I ask you, Dr. Gould, is Mr. Petersen-Overton, an overt supporter of terrorism, really the best candidate Brooklyn College could find to teaxch this course? Surely, you must concede that the answer is a resounding “no.” Indeed, Mr. Petersen-Overton would be better suited for a teaching position at the Islamic University of Gaza.
Here’s the follow-up article. The Assemblyman says, “I am absolutely thrilled that Brooklyn College made the right decision and removed Professor Petersen-Overton from his post.”
So am I. It should still be a serious concern to know more about the appointment, as I originally wrote,
It should be of interest what the vetting procedure is at Brooklyn College to select a pool of well-qualified candidates, the criteria by which Kristofer Petersen was selected to teach the Middle East, and how Petersen compared to other qualified candidates. Academic transparency should not be – nor viewed as – a challenge to academic freedom but rather as its necessary bulwark of credibility.
Here’s the straight forward TV coverage from WPIX-New York. Petersen says on TV, “I have very vocal views in favor of the Palestinian cause for self-determination.” The reporter says that Petersen hopes to rally support from other professors and that he plans to appeal. That would be an opportunity to further reveal the answers to how and why this pro-Palestinian activist was hired, and to reveal the CUNY professors who may believe Petersen is a qualified professor.
Posted by Bruce Kesler at 01:24 |
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