linfield university controversy
Faculty members within Linfield's College of Arts and Sciences Monday passed a resolution signifying no confidence in the university president and board chair, calling for their resignations. In his first detailed statement on the complaints, Baca wrote that he regretted, that we did not strictly enforce an order that Mr. Jubb refrain from fraternizing with students during the evening when the second incident allegedly took place., He said he realized too late that a mistake had been made in allowing Mr. Jubb to attend the bar gathering after the faculty/trustee dinner. Dismissal for cause must not be used to restrain faculty members in their exercise of academic freedom or other rights of [an] American citizen. Dismissal for cause must be preceded by, among other things, a statement of charges and a hearing. During the hearing process, the faculty member may not be suspended, much less fired, unless immediate harm to the faculty member or others is threatened by continuance.. Davis denied making this comment before he admitted making it. Most important, you should know that Professor Pollack-Pelzner has been engaged in a smear campaign toward me and the administration at Linfield University, Davis wrote. How to request transcripts Contact us For more information on how to get involved with Linfield, please don't hesitate to reach out. Dave decided it was in Linfields best interest that he step down and allow new leaders to come to the forefront, Linfield spokesperson Scott Nelson said in a statement. Some have called for the universitys president to resign. No competent university leader could credibly believe that tenured faculty are at-will employees. Linfield University, a liberal arts college in Oregon, claims repeatedly in its faculty handbook to honor academic freedom. Based on that investigation, the NAACP criticized the ADL and Oregon Board of Rabbis for calling on Davis to resign. But Pollack-Pelzner told JTA that theres a real issue of institutional racism at Linfield and said that allegations against white members of the board had never been investigated, while allegations against Black members had been. And the Anti-Defamation Leagues Pacific Northwest office urged Dr. Davis to consider stepping down. Its retaliatory in the extreme.. The university, which has about 1,900 students and 139 faculty members, maintains an affiliation with the American Baptist Churches U.S.A. Dr. Pollack-Pelzner lost his post a month after he had outlined multiple accusations of anti-Semitism and sexual misconduct by university leaders in a statement on Twitter. former faculty member Daniel Pollack-Pelzner brought to light allegations. The Zestimate for this Townhouse is $559,300, which has decreased by $54,929 in the last 30 days.The Rent Zestimate for this Townhouse is $3,499/mo, which has decreased by $247/mo in the last 30 days. The president said he was unaware of the guidelines, hadnt seen the most recent version of the faculty handbook, didnt know who had updated it, and didnt believe it had been approved by the administration. Be a part of it! Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. You are now subscribed to FIRE Updates. A petition protesting the firing has now been signed by hundreds of other faculty members across the country and around the world. Dies geschieht in Ihren Datenschutzeinstellungen. He wrote that he went to the bar because he wanted to keep a watch.. I dont know how anybody could feel safe in this environment., Linfield University Fires Professor Who Spoke Out About Misconduct Cases, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/01/us/Linfield-university-professor-fired.html. That lawsuit is still pending. How Oregon researchers are testing 3D printing to reconstruct bone. Maxine Bernstein | The Oregonian/OregonLive, told the newspaper in May that the school failed to intervene as promised, Jubb is accused of sexually abusing student-trustee AnnaMarie Motis. Learn with FIRE provides learners with the opportunity to take courses on a wide range of topics, including free speech and due process, designed by our expert staff. Davis invited the NAACP to investigate whether he was subject to racist treatment after he was accused both of antisemitism as well as sexual assault. Jackson B. Miller, a communication arts professor, criticized both statements,. Across the country, colleges and universities have been wrestling with allegations of sexual misconduct, racial discrimination and anti-Semitism. But in an interview with The Chronicle, Davis confirmed that he had indeed made the comment about Jewish and Arab noses, which he said had been informed by the time hed spent in the Middle East. Do these folks really think theyre going to win a social media war against Generation Z?, Trey PetersonWood, a recent Linfield graduate, said Monday that the more Linfield attempts to censor and silence advocates for accountability, the more damage they are causing to this great institution that has the potential to be a leader in the age of what oppressors call cancel culture, but in reality, its the age of accountability.. Linfields administration does not get to pick and choose between the policies it has and the policies it wishes it had. Rabbi Eve Posen, president of the Oregon Board of Rabbis, told JTA that the Oregon Board of Rabbis is interested and would be more than happy to work with the NAACP, but did not elaborate. Pollack-Pelzner said he hopes Linfield puts its energy toward building a safer and more supportive community for everyone instead of focusing its energy on him. Linfield University. Im trying to figure out what my options are. Feb . frequently responds to hate and anti-Semitism on college campuses, rarely is that anti-Semitism or hatred perpetrated by a president of a university or other leadership.. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org. No one else on the 33-member Linfield board faces an abuse complaint by a student, the boards executive committee said in a statement, also released last week. The Anti-Defamation League and Oregon Board of Rabbis also asked him to resign. With their support, I will continue to lead the Board to the best of my ability and serve the university I love, he wrote in a statement the university released last week. The refusal to take this action, and the defiant tone within these messages about the possibility of even considering such a step, perpetuates an image of Linfield as an organization that is not adequately addressing sexual misconduct allegations, Miller wrote. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Its hard to see the universitys interest in protecting the reputation of a former trustee, much less one who resigned (for health reasons, the university said) after allegedly sexually assaulting a student. Academic freedom and freedom of inquiry are values to which Linfield University subscribes., But Linfields despotic administration has effectively renounced this statement in favor of a pithier one: Snitches get stitches.. 8025 Linfield Way #1, Atlanta GA, is a Townhouse home that contains 2509 sq ft and was built in 2020.It contains 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Obviously, a university need not convene a unanimous jury before stopping ongoing physical violence. It contains 3 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. When he sent an email to himself as a test, he received, as the Chronicle of Higher Education reports, an auto-reply, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner is no longer an employee of Linfield University. A Linfield University spokesperson explains that Pollack-Pelzner was let go for circulating unspecified false statements, for an equally unspecified failure to comply with university policies, and generally being insubordinate.. 13 among all public universities in the United States by Niche, a research company that produces an annual Liked by Kendra (Preugschat) Hill So which is it? Pollack-Pelzner whose case has become a cause celebre among American academics did not agree to speak with the NAACP for its investigation, and the report does not substantively address his termination or his allegations, relying instead on the independent investigation that could not substantiate them. Kerry Carmody, the boards vice chair, was named interim chair, effective Oct.1. As FIRE detailed yesterday, Linfield Universitys senior leadership abruptly terminated Daniel Pollack-Pelzner after he criticized the universitys handling of sexual assault and harassment allegations against board members, and alleged that Linfield president Miles K. Davis had made a remark about Jewish noses. Davis has, until now, denied that claim. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. Several professors have of late used mass emails or publicly criticized the university for what they describe as Linfield's poor handling of several sexual misconduct complaints involving members of the Board of Trustees. This shouldnt be hard to understand. Anyone can read what you share. That is exactly what FIRE is telling Davis and the institution he currently leads. Pioneer Hall is seen through the signature oak trees at Linfield College in McMinnville, Ore., Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Linfields administration does not get to pick and choose between the policies it has and the policies it wishes it had. Due mostly to Davis denials, an independent investigation could not substantiate the allegations. Zestimate Home Value: $439,900. He also insisted that the remark was part of an academic discussion and wasnt meant to be offensive. The two statements are the latest developments in a controversy that has roiled the McMinnville campus for months. Florida State University ranked No. That concession is damning for Davis and Linfields claim that Pollack-Pelzners allegation is defamatory. College faculty overwhelmingly passed a vote of no confidence in Baca on May 26, finding he failed to protect students after receiving a complaint in 2018 from a graduate who accused Jubb of sexually abusing her and two of her friends the prior year. His termination, the letter says, threatens to set a precedent that will eviscerate the foundational principles of both free speech and of faculty governance on university campuses., Miles K. Davis, Linfield University's president, denies saying anything antisemitic. The employee handbook every page of which is stamped Revised December 2020 (by Finance & Administration) expressly refers to the faculty handbook and specifically cites the faculty handbooks appendix laying out the procedural mechanisms for disciplinary action involving tenured faculty. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. Linfield University announced Tuesday that the chair of its Board of Trustees, David Baca, has stepped down from the leadership post after four years, including a tumultuous last several months. Davis also noted that two of the trustees who were accused of sexual misconduct are African-American. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. FIRE defends the rights of students and faculty members no matter their views at public and private universities and colleges in the United States. Davis had previously denied making the comment, and an investigation into him had concluded based on his denial that the comment could not be substantiated. You will receive a link to create a new password via email. One of those reports included former board member David Jubb, who was indicted last year on eight counts seven counts of third-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. Promising to be open about budget cuts, he quoted a former professor of his who used to make the analogy, You dont send the Jews to the shower with soap, Dr. Linder said. That was related to complaints of misconduct about former board member David Jubb, who was indicted last year on multiple counts of sexual abuse some of those counts relating to a female Linfield student who filed a federal lawsuit in 2019 against Jubb. Perhaps Davis shifted to the remark about the trustee because he conceded to the Chronicle that he had, in fact, made the remark about Jewish noses that Pollack-Pelzner had alleged: A campus investigation last August into the nose comment, along with other matters, called it a he said, he said situation and stated that Davis had denied saying it. Tenure is not at-will employment and the university promises procedural protections to its faculty. Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan are reviving it. Last year, Linfields faculty assembly voted it had no confidence in Baca, specifically in his ability to handle sexual harassment reporting, according to reporting from Linfields student newspaper The Linfield Review. But affording a faculty member some kind of process before imposing any disciplinary action Davis wants? In fact, there is one felony charge against Jubb, along with seven counts of third-degree sexual abuse, which is a misdemeanor in Oregon. All rights reserved (About Us). Linfield has extensive and robust programs to educate and train students, faculty and staff on matters of discrimination, sexual harassment and misconduct, and intolerance, Davis wrote. Baca said he met at length with Motis when she raised her complaint in 2019 and he banned Jubb from attending the next board meeting while he began a process to remove him as trustee. He said that his firing sent the message that if you use your voice to speak up against sexual misconduct, then you will lose your voice.. Discover who you're meant to be. The Rent Zestimate for this home is $3,499/mo, which has decreased by $500/mo in the last 30 days. Last week, the faculty of Linfields College of Arts and Sciences overwhelmingly called for his resignation. The justifications offered by Linfields leadership to the Chronicle are incoherent. Nelson said outside law firms, internal investigators and the universitys human resources office investigated and found no evidence to support the claims of antisemitic comments Pollack-Pelzner laid out in his posts. In a letter responding to the ADL, Davis invited the group to meet following the academic year but rebuffed the call to resign. No competent university leader could credibly believe that tenured faculty are at-will employees. In a June 17, 2019, email to board members, Baca wrote that Jubb, 71, had advised him he was resigning due to health concerns. Baca cited Jubbs valuable service to the board and the College and urged gratitude for his positive contributions.. In its letter Thursday, Anti-Defamation League Pacific Northwest Regional Director Miri Cypers wrote that the ADL is not representing Pollack-Pelzner as his attorney nor is it in a position to verify his allegations, but that it is troubled by his descriptions of the incidents. Until then, it may be unwise in defending against accusations that the university mishandled allegations of sexual misconduct to summarily terminate a tenured faculty member because he got the number of felony sexual assault counts wrong. And because of the incompetent despotism of some of its leaders, Linfield is now a national story. Presented by FIRE and College Pulse, the 2022 College Free Speech Rankings is the largest survey of campus free expression ever performed. You will complete approximately one-third of your courses in the core. The handbook needs to be revised or it was never approved? Instead, he said, it was the result of Pollack-Pelzners having made a number of statements that were blatantly false. The example he cited is the professors stating, in a recent email to Linfield faculty members, that Jubb, the former trustee, faced eight felony counts. David Baca, longtime chair of Linfield University's Board of Trustees, said this week that he's stepping down. Pollack-Pelzners interpretation of what Davis meant is a matter of opinion, not fact, and remains protected speech. We believe we have taken the necessary and appropriate steps and are committed to do the work to engage in a process of healing, he wrote. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The controversies have played out for months in a federal lawsuit filed by a student, through public statements from faculty members and leaders, student protests, and votes of no confidence. The most serious of the sexual misconduct allegations involved a trustee, David Jubb, who resigned in June 2019 and was charged in an indictment last May with one count of felony sexual abuse and seven counts of misdemeanor sexual abuse. After 13 years on the Board and four years as chair, Dave decided it was in Linfields best interest that he step down and allow new leaders to come to the forefront, Scott Nelson, university spokesman, told The Oregonian. Although he is stepping down as chair, Baca will still serve on the board. Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week. Kerry Carmody, the board's vice chair, was named . If this is what Linfield wants its faculty standards to look like, one would not need to look far to see how it will be abused.). David Baca, longtime chair of Linfield Universitys Board of Trustees, said this week that hes stepping down. Linfield stands against xenophobia, racism, antisemitism and sexual misconduct in all forms.. [11] Offices on the Portland and McMinnville campuses will be closed from Dec. 23 - Jan. 2 so employees can enjoy a much-deserved rest this holiday season. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The president said that it had nothing to do with his fitness as a teacher or a researcher (though thats the standard, according to the faculty handbook). He acknowledged the university still has work to do, particularly surrounding implicit bias and microaggressions. Jubb has pleaded not guilty to sex abuse charges. Pollack-Pelzner, an English literature professor who had tenure, was fired Tuesday after he and others publicly accused Linfield President Miles K. Davis of making multiple antisemitic comments, including about Jewish noses as well as the Holocaust. As Linfield adapts to meet the needs of a new generation of students and the demands of a quickly evolving world of higher education, the Board also has to adapt and change. The professor said he tried notifying his bosses about sexual harassment. As I understand it from the documents we reviewed, the allegations of antisemitic comments were investigated by the university, so that was litigated and resolved, he said. Start your risk free trial with unlimited access. ( JTA) In the latest developments in an ongoing controversy at Linfield University over the firing of a tenured Jewish professor who accused the school of antisemitism, a report from the. Dr. Pollack-Pelzner, who was hired by the university in 2010 and has written about theater and the arts as a contributor for The New York Times, said he had been fired without a hearing or any of the other due process protections normally granted to tenured faculty members. Davis said the university initiated internal and external investigations of each incident and found no support for the claims in Pollack-Pelzners posts. The handbook was last updated in January of this year, according to the Chronicle. The Linfield Curriculum The core general-education courses teach critical thinking and communication skills and provide a rich, broad experience. Linfield laid this, and other allegations, out in a statement last year from the Executive Committee of the universitys board of trustees. Linfield University is affiliated with American Baptist Churches, USA. said Dr. Davis had contacted it last month with concerns about racial bias. Police, security agencies advise Jews to be on alert ahead of planned National Day of Hate on Shabbat, American citizen killed in latest West Bank shooting amid escalating violence, This Orthodox Jewish model made history at New York Fashion Week. Last week Linfield professor and faculty trustee Daniel Pollack-Pelzner tweeted that he faced antisemitic comments after he reported that multiple members of the university's Board of Trustees. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Daviss answer is wildly implausible on its face and incomprehensibly at odds with the basic conception of tenure. He said that as an African-American man, he understands the need for education, training and community engagement on matters of discrimination and intolerance.. Mr. Jubb has pleaded not guilty and his case is scheduled for trial in November, his lawyer said. Dr. Pollack-Pelzner also said that Dr. Davis had made a comment in 2018 about measuring the size of Jewish noses when the professor had mentioned that he was teaching The Merchant of Venice, which features Shylock, a character often criticized as an anti-Semitic stereotype. So eight criminal charges total, not all of them felonies. As described in a federal lawsuit, Linfield board chair David Baca told trustees in June 2019 that veteran trustee David Jubb was resigning "due to health concerns,'' when he actually was facing sexual abuse allegations. About a month after his widely shared Twitter thread, Pollack-Pelzner was let go so abruptly that he learned of it only when he was locked out of Linfields email system. An open letter signed by more than 1,800 professors says that Linfield denied Pollack-Pelzner due process. David Baca, the embattled chair of Linfield Universitys board of trustees, said he offered to resign after a faculty vote of no confidence in late May over his handling of sexual abuse allegations against another trustee, but other trustees convinced him to stay on. Linfield is inventing policies on the fly to justify its retaliation against a tenured faculty member. Linfield fires prof who raised sexual harassment, antisemitism allegations By Rob Manning (OPB) April 27, 2021 6:58 p.m. 510 Walnut St. | Suite 1250 I havent seen any indication that people in positions of power at Linfield want to hold themselves accountable., Other organizations have also come out in Pollack-Pelzners defense. In interviews this week, Dr. Davis and the board chairman, David Baca, denied any wrongdoing. And where exploring your passions uncovers a lifetime of success.
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