Professor, ACLU may sue UNLV, from The Rebel Yell. This is a particularly instructive--and scary--article. Finally, the name of the student who accused Hoppe, Michael Knight, is revealed. Some of his comments are really a sad statement on the egalitarian, entitlement mentality of today's brainwashed crop of sniveling, totalitarian-minded students.
Although Hoppe claimed that none of his students had any questions or comments during his lecture, Knight stated that most students never talked to Hoppe or asked questions because of his "unapproachable demeanor."
"The way he carries himself and the way he acts toward students makes them feel stupid for asking questions," Knight said. "They were too intimidated. E-mailing him my concerns never crossed my mind because I knew that he would be just as unapproachable via e-mail as he is in person."
So, this kid felt stupid? I wonder why.
Although Hoppe claimed that none of his students had any questions or comments during his lecture, Knight stated that most students never talked to Hoppe or asked questions because of his "unapproachable demeanor."
"The way he carries himself and the way he acts toward students makes them feel stupid for asking questions," Knight said. "They were too intimidated. E-mailing him my concerns never crossed my mind because I knew that he would be just as unapproachable via e-mail as he is in person."
The way he carries himself? I suppose it's that German accent and wearing a suit. Instead of dressing like a shabby slob, as is today's fashion. Curious how Hoppe would get very high remarks as a professor if he's so unapproachable. Anyway, what does unapproachability have to do with the complaint? What snotnosed brat punks students have become.
Knight said that he was not necessarily expecting anything to come of his complaint, but was shocked at how Hoppe dealt with the complaint in a class lecture the next week. Knight said that Hoppe conducted himself in a way that seemed he did not take the complaint seriously. "It was like a slap in the face," Knight said.
According to Knight, Hoppe brought it to the class's attention that he had offended a student, but did not offer an apology or acknowledgement of any insensitivity on his part. "If he had come back and apologized for offending anyone, or even if he didn't bring anything up at all again, it would have been fine, but I feel that he was taking it to the next level," Knight said. "His choice of words was unacceptable."
So, the student deems the professor's sensitivity level to be unacceptable. Amazing. Students with real majors and career ambitions don't have time for such BS. They study and work hard to ace the material. They don't bother with such bunk.
Knight felt that the university has handled the situation correctly, stating that the administration has shown great concern and has helped him through the ordeal. However, Knight said that the experience has taught him valuable lessons about the people he will be facing in the world.
Well, at least Knight learned something in college.
"At first I was in shock that a professor could discount a student's concern like that," Knight said. "But now I feel like a stronger person for voicing my concern and it makes me proud of who I am."
That's what college is all about--"learning experiences" at the expensive of professors, so the student learns to be "proud of who they are."
Knight added that he felt Hoppe should go through mediation and sensitivity training so that in the future, he could avoid offending anyone else.
This is the scary part. They want to send Hoppe to a reeducation camp. And these people are the smug ones who think they are liberal and tolerant and open to diversity. This is literally chilling. I'm thinking, maybe the money I'm saving up for my son's college tuition would go beter to buying him a year backpacking in Europe, a year in vo-tech school learning to be an electrician, and the rest for a good downpayment on his house. Why waste money on college if this specimen is the result? (entire text of article follows)
Rebel Yell - News Issue: 2/10/05 Professor, ACLU may sue UNLV By Justin Chomintra Economics professor Hans Hoppe may be seeking legal action against UNLV, demanding that the university stop all threats of reprimand for comments he made about homosexuals in a March lecture to his money and banking class. Hoppe, along with the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada, contend that it is ridiculous for the university to try to punish him for expressing his rights for freedom of speech as well as academic freedom. The ACLU, on Hoppe's behalf, also stated that although they would rather it not come to it, they are willing to sue UNLV for its violation of Hoppe's civil rights. "The university has blatantly violated its contractual obligations toward me," Hoppe said. "Instead of protecting me from frivolous interference with my right to academic freedom, university administrators have been permitted to engage in a witch-hunt against me." Officials from the university declined to comment on the case, stating that they could not openly discuss personnel issues. The allegedly offensive comments were made on March 4 while Hoppe was lecturing his ECO 303 class on how different demographics tend to plan differently for the future. While using multiple examples to illustrate his points, Hoppe said that homosexuals tend to plan less for the future than heterosexuals. Factors Hoppe offered to support his statement were the ideas that homosexuals live riskier lifestyles and tend not to have children. Hoppe then went on to address theories that economist John Maynard Keynes may have been influenced by his homosexuality when he adopted his "spend it now" philosophy to keep the economy strong and cyclical, suggesting that homosexuality entails spontaneity. Hoppe said that he made it clear to the class that he was merely speaking in generalities and that the generalized economic planning of certain demographics was not always true. However, Michael Knight, a student in Hoppe's money and banking class, was offended by the comments and took his concerns to the administration immediately after the lecture. "I just couldn't believe he took something like that and generalized it," said Knight, a recent UNLV graduate who received his Bachelor of Arts in Economy with a minor in Management. "I was shocked." Although Hoppe claimed that none of his students had any questions or comments during his lecture, Knight stated that most students never talked to Hoppe or asked questions because of his "unapproachable demeanor." "The way he carries himself and the way he acts toward students makes them feel stupid for asking questions," Knight said. "They were too intimidated. E-mailing him my concerns never crossed my mind because I knew that he would be just as unapproachable via e-mail as he is in person." So Knight e-mailed Dean Richard E. Flaherty of the College of Business, along with Stephen Miller, chair of the Economics Department, the day after the lecture. A few days later, the administration notified Hoppe that an informal complaint had been issued against him for his comments. Knight said that he was not necessarily expecting anything to come of his complaint, but was shocked at how Hoppe dealt with the complaint in a class lecture the next week. Knight said that Hoppe conducted himself in a way that seemed he did not take the complaint seriously. "It was like a slap in the face," Knight said. According to Knight, Hoppe brought it to the class's attention that he had offended a student, but did not offer an apology or acknowledgement of any insensitivity on his part. "If he had come back and apologized for offending anyone, or even if he didn't bring anything up at all again, it would have been fine, but I feel that he was taking it to the next level," Knight said. "His choice of words was unacceptable." Knight then decided to change his complaint against Hoppe from informal to formal, which lead to a months-long series of hearings. Ultimately, Hoppe said, the university offered to give him a letter of reprimand and have him give up his next pay increase. On the advice of an attorney friend of his, Hoppe contacted the ACLU, who took him into their counsel and are now prepared to sue if Hoppe faces any kind of punishment. "As the ACLU, I hope that legal actions will not be necessary," Hoppe said. "The university has committed a grave injustice. It should back down immediately, offer me an apology, and think about how to compensate me for the harm it has done." Hoppe claimed that the ordeal has had widespread affects on both his mental and physical health. "This affair has been dragging on in an almost Kafka-esque fashion for almost a year now. It has cost me countless sleepless nights, my health has suffered, as my doctors will attest, and most importantly, it has robbed me of my ability to concentrate on my work." Knight felt that the university has handled the situation correctly, stating that the administration has shown great concern and has helped him through the ordeal. However, Knight said that the experience has taught him valuable lessons about the people he will be facing in the world. "At first I was in shock that a professor could discount a student's concern like that," Knight said. "But now I feel like a stronger person for voicing my concern and it makes me proud of who I am." Knight added that he felt Hoppe should go through mediation and sensitivity training so that in the future, he could avoid offending anyone else. However, Hoppe feels that the university is in need of improvement, claiming that, "The university's academic reputation has already severely suffered from this incident." Hoppe claimed that UNLV President Carol Harter and other university officials have already received hundreds of letters from around the world persecuting the university for its injustices. Harter could not be reached to confirm Hoppe's claims.
