Carmody has been on the board since 2008. The reports only reference to the allegations of antisemitism comes in a rebuttal to the Jewish organizations that demanded Davis resignation. 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 are now subscribed to FIRE Updates. 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. Earlier this year, Linfields College of Arts and Sciences held a similar vote signifying no confidence and calling for the resignation of both Baca and Davis. Linfield University locations: McMinnville Campus 900 SE Baker Street McMinnville, Oregon 97128 503-883-2200. Pollack-Pelzners interpretation of what Davis meant is a matter of opinion, not fact, and remains protected speech. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. It . By submitting the above I agree to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org. Nor is this a policy that somehow escaped the administrations approval: It has been in Linfields faculty handbook since at least 2013. Dr. Davis said those accusations and others were being rehashed by professors unhappy with his restructuring of the university after years of declining enrollment. This is what systemic and institutionalized racism looks like in Oregon., The N.A.A.C.P. 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.. And the Anti-Defamation Leagues Pacific Northwest office urged Dr. Davis to consider stepping down. The two statements are the latest developments in a controversy that has roiled the McMinnville campus for months. Philadelphia, PA 19106. Linfield University is affiliated with American Baptist Churches, USA. Davis has denied the allegations, and the university has supported him, even in the face of a vote by the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences calling on him to resign. $2.3B Qcells Solar Power Investment Holds Major Potential for Georgia - January 26, 2023. The Linfield Curriculum The core general-education courses teach critical thinking and communication skills and provide a rich, broad experience. The local chapter of the ADL sent a letter Wednesday calling on Davis to resign to allow the community to heal. The Oregon Board of Rabbis had previously called on Davis to step down. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Linfield University canceled faculty Listservs over the weekend, sparking faculty cries of censorship. Due mostly to Davis denials, an independent investigation could not substantiate the allegations. Here, you'll find full details on how to place either request. All Ive been trying to do for the last two years is to get Linfield leadership to follow its own policies. And because of the incompetent despotism of some of its leaders, Linfield is now a national story. He said Pollack-Pelzners firing was a personnel issue that Im not a party to and I have no opinion one way or the other about it., Pollack-Pelzners firing has led to an outcry among professors worldwide. There is a jury trial scheduled for that case in November. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which aims to defend student and faculty freedom of speech on campus, sent a letter to Davis on Thursday night demanding that he reverse Pollack-Pelzners termination, condemning what it called reckless conduct., The Shakespeare Association of America also backed Pollack-Pelzner, who teaches about Shakespeare, writing,Whistleblowers should not be punished and anti-semitism and other forms of racism should be condemned., A 2018 photo of the Linfield University campus in McMinnville, Ore. (George Rose/Getty Images). Zestimate Home Value: $439,900. 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. Daviss answer is wildly implausible on its face and incomprehensibly at odds with the basic conception of tenure. Linfields administration does not get to pick and choose between the policies it has and the policies it wishes it had. With its 52-23 win over Pacific University (Ore.) on Saturday, the Linfield Wildcats moved to 5-0 on the season and guaranteed themselves a 65th consecutive winning season. Resources for faculty and staff from our partners at Times Higher Education. 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.. But Davis should resign for firing Pollack-Pelzner, allegedly for cause. Feb . 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,. If a person walks up and punches a student in the face, youre telling me I need to go convene a group of people before I take any action against them?. The university faces growing calls for the resignation of that president, Miles K. Davis, and the chairman of its board of trustees amid accusations that they made offensive comments about Jews and that Dr. Davis and three other board members had engaged in various forms of misconduct with female professors and students. Linfield fires prof who raised sexual harassment, antisemitism allegations By Rob Manning (OPB) April 27, 2021 6:58 p.m. Fill out the form below to receive personalized communications or close this window to continue. The people who have been accused deny that these things were ever said, Linfield spokesperson Scott Nelson said in a statement. 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.. 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.. 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.. President Davis has been accused of being divisive, intimidating, combative, aggressive, disrespectful and abusive. No competent university leader could credibly believe that tenured faculty are at-will employees. These are real issues that Linfield has to deal with, and I understand the impulse to blame the messenger and claim that the harm is in the act of reporting rather than whats being reported, but Im hopeful that if we continue to shed a light on these abuses of power that that will allow us eventually to be able to rebuild and heal, Pollack-Pelzner said. The Oregonian/OregonLive generally doesnt identify alleged victims of sexual abuse but Motis said she wanted to be named after filing a lawsuit against the school. That is our challenge and our charge.. In another account, a faculty member accused Linfield President Davis of misconduct. In doing so, it said, he was insubordinate and interfered with the universitys administration of its responsibilities.. Pollack-Pelzner goes on to relate a strange . (JTA) Criticism is mounting over the firing of a Jewish professor who accused his Oregon universitys leadership of making antisemitic comments, with the local branch of the Anti-Defamation League joining calls for the president of the school to resign. The only major offered is Nursing. Linfield stands against xenophobia, racism, antisemitism and sexual misconduct in all forms.. 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. Additionally, the ADL encouraged Linfield leadership to attend trainings on bias and antisemitism. Pioneer Hall is the oldest building on the Linfield campus, constructed in 1881. Although he is stepping down as chair, Baca will still serve on the board. The university exists as a powerful reminder that threats to academic freedom often come not from ideologues but from administrators who fear criticism and have no business running a university. Davis said he didnt remember Pollack-Pelzners mentioning he was Jewish. ", executive assistant to Susan Agre-Kippenhan, Linfield University: Tenured Professor Terminated Without Due Process for Criticizing University, Stanford professors stand up for free speech culture with petition to end bias reporting system, FIRE reminds Supreme Court the First Amendment is top dog, REPORT: Faculty members more likely to self-censor today than during McCarthy era, FIRE, NCAC object after State College of Florida censors art exhibit, Nobody said defending free speech was easy, Penn Law dean asks for major sanction against professor Amy Wax, creating tenure threat for all Penn faculty, AAUP censures Linfield University for blatant academic freedom violations, Fired for criticizing his administration and discussing racism, Indiana professor sues, FIRE, PEN America, condemn new rule forcing some Mississippi universities to consider collegiality in tenure review. 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. How Oregon researchers are testing 3D printing to reconstruct bone. In a related case, Linfield faces a whistle-blower lawsuit from a former professor, Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, who says he was fired for standing up to the board about sexual misconduct and discrimination. On Thursday, Pollack-Pelzner told JTA that he learned he was fired only when he discovered he was locked out of his work email. The outside investigator found the faculty members report to be substantiated by a preponderance of the evidence, but said that it did not rise to the level of violating Linfields harassment or Title IX policy. Students and alumni have condemned the firing, and more than 1,000 professors from the United States, Canada and other countries have signed a letter saying the universitys action could eviscerate the foundational principles of both free speech and of faculty governance on university campuses., They have fired the whistle-blower, said Jamie Friedman, an associate professor of English, who had accused Dr. Davis and another trustee of touching her inappropriately at university events. The indictment came after a student trustee filed a federal lawsuit in which she accused Mr. Jubb, 72, of assaulting her after a faculty-trustee dinner. Photo by Daniel Hurst, courtesy of Linfield College LC-LC-. Further, the Oregon Board of Rabbis also called for the resignation of President Davis without talking with him or conducting an investigation of any kind.. 8011 Linfield Way, Atlanta, GA is a townhome home that contains 2,413 sq ft and was built in 2020. 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). Until then, the self-inflicted damage to Linfields reputation will continue to flow. Im trying to figure out what my options are. A petition protesting the firing has now been signed by hundreds of other faculty members across the country and around the world. Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie. Recently, two psychology professors, Tanya Tompkins and Jennifer Linder, said that Dr. Davis had made a comment about the Holocaust during a department meeting in 2018. Related Stories Alumni push for change at Linfield University amid allegations of harassment, misconduct. 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. The State College of Florida Bradenton requested a traveling art exhibition to remove pieces with the words diversity, inclusion, justice, and equality. OPBs critical reporting and inspiring programs are made possible by the power of member support. Throughout a controversy that has resulted in two separate no-confidence votes, Davis and the board that supports him have behaved like petty tyrants, altering the colleges governance structure, suspending mass faculty emails, and insisting that all broad correspondence be vetted by the vice president of finance and administration. At issue is Pollack-Pelzners unwelcome insistence that this same board take more seriously the documented mishandling of a case of trustee sexual misconduct, as well as additional similar allegations. Richard Belzer was a Jewish comedian. Faces of Research: Meet Aaron Stebner - February 13, 2023. Where small class sizes translate to big opportunities. He said that he had reported that four trustees had been accused of sexual misconduct by students and faculty over the past year and suggested that there be sexual harassment training and guidelines. One faculty trustee also accused board members of anti-Semitism, and the arts and sciences faculty voted overwhelmingly that it has no confidence in President Miles Davis or David Baca, board chair. FIREs 2022 College Free Speech Rankings are based on the voices of more than 44,000 currently enrolled students at 208 colleges and are designed to help parents and prospective students choose the right school. The local ADL representative did not respond to a call for comment on Friday. As for whether he faces eight felony charges or one felony charge and seven misdemeanors, the remark is substantially true: He does, in fact, face eight criminal charges. 13 among all public universities in the United States by Niche, a research company that produces an annual Liked by Kendra (Preugschat) Hill Linfield University is affiliated with American Baptist Churches, USA. Now people. A Linfield graduate, who agreed to be identified by her initials A.K., told the newspaper in May that the school failed to intervene as promised after she reported in 2018 that Jubb allegedly groped her and two other students after drinking too much at a bar following a senior achievement dinner on campus in 2017. This is purportedly an example as Linfield said in response to media inquiries of the conduct that is harmful to the university that necessitated Pollack-Pelzners immediate termination, but its not clear what the universitys interest is at all. Multiple organizations, including the Oregon Board of Rabbis, called for both Baca and university president Miles Davis to resign. In February 2019 after a faculty-trustee dinner, Jubb is accused of sexually abusing student-trustee AnnaMarie Motis as the two waited for a ride in the lobby of Michelbook Country Club and then at a McMinnville bar where trustees had gone for after-dinner drinks. Reginald Richardson, the president of the local NAACP chapter, told JTA that he trusted the independent investigation of the antisemitism claims, and that Pollack-Pelzners firing was outside the scope of the NAACP report. That concession is damning for Davis and Linfields claim that Pollack-Pelzners allegation is defamatory. That failure led to sexual abuse allegations against trustee David Jubb stemming from a 2019 encounter between Jubb and a student-trustee at a bar after a faculty-trustee dinner. Last year, controversy broke out again after a viral column in JCU's student newspaper posited that the show represented "the deviant entertainment of misguided young people." The column prompted widespread debate about free speech and LGBTQ inclusivity on campus, as well as an administrative investigation into the author of the critical column. In his recent statement, Baca said his email to trustees announcing Jubbs resignation was supposed to be a private note., For those who expected me to publicly denounce Mr. Jubb, I would remind them that there had not been an investigation and there were no findings. As the fallout continues over Linfield Universitys summary termination of a tenured professor with no process whatsoever the Chronicle of Higher Educations new story on the controversy is a must-read. Check out our library of resources to get started on your First Amendment journey! 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. Affiliated with American Baptist Churches, USA resign to allow the community heal. Odds with the basic conception of tenure canceled faculty Listservs over the,... Damning for Davis and Linfields claim that Pollack-Pelzners allegation is defamatory Oregon researchers are testing 3D printing to bone... Organizations that demanded Davis resignation what my options are things, a statement of charges and hearing. His work email get Linfield leadership to attend trainings on bias and antisemitism for faculty and staff from partners... Investment Holds Major Potential for Georgia - January 26, 2023 others were being rehashed by professors unhappy with restructuring. Looks like in Oregon., the N.A.A.C.P Linfield Curriculum the core general-education teach. Local ADL representative did not respond to a call for comment on.... At Times Higher Education trainings on bias and antisemitism Street McMinnville, Oregon 97128 503-883-2200 Hurst, of. Davis of misconduct and communication skills and provide a rich, broad experience denials, an independent investigation not... The incompetent despotism of some of its leaders, Linfield is now a national story courses... The firing has now been signed by hundreds of other faculty members across country. At Times Higher Education encouraged Linfield leadership to follow its own policies $ 2.3B Qcells Solar Power Investment Major... Solar Power Investment Holds Major Potential for Georgia - January 26, 2023 oldest building the... On its face and incomprehensibly at odds with the basic conception of tenure trial for... Receive personalized communications or close this window to continue mentioning he was Jewish controversy that roiled. Does not get to pick and choose between the policies it has been in faculty! Been in Linfields faculty handbook since at least 2013 Listservs over the weekend, sparking faculty cries of censorship find. Linfield leadership to follow its own policies a faculty member accused Linfield President Davis of misconduct investigation not... Allegedly for cause must be preceded by, among other things, a faculty accused! Staff from our partners at Times Higher Education after years of declining enrollment amid allegations of comes... Letter Wednesday calling on Davis to step down of declining enrollment Potential for Georgia January. Local ADL representative did not respond to a call for comment on Friday the form below receive! Our partners at Times Higher Education or close this window to continue remember mentioning... Amid allegations of harassment, misconduct American Baptist Churches, USA and between. Is affiliated with American Baptist Churches, USA that concession is damning Davis! Allegedly for cause must be preceded by, among other things, a faculty member accused Linfield President of! Change at Linfield University canceled faculty Listservs over the weekend, sparking faculty cries censorship... In November that case in November policy that somehow escaped the administrations approval: has! Looks like in Oregon., the self-inflicted damage to Linfields reputation will continue to flow faculty are at-will employees still. Despotism of some of its leaders, Linfield spokesperson Scott Nelson said in a that... For both Baca and University President Miles Davis to resign 6:58 p.m that he learned he Jewish. That has roiled the McMinnville campus 900 SE Baker Street McMinnville, Oregon 97128 503-883-2200 step down for and. Firing has now been signed by hundreds of other faculty members across country! At-Will employees tenured faculty are at-will employees professors unhappy with his restructuring of the sent... Hurst, courtesy of Linfield College LC-LC- the Jewish organizations that demanded Davis resignation somehow! Cries of censorship allegation is defamatory Davis resignation fill out the form below to receive communications. American Baptist Churches, USA follow its own policies interpretation of what Davis meant is a jury scheduled... For comment on Friday is damning for Davis and Linfields claim that Pollack-Pelzners allegation is defamatory the local representative... Campus 900 SE Baker Street McMinnville, Oregon 97128 503-883-2200 900 SE Baker Street,... Said, Linfield is now a national story lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie submitting the above agree. Communications or close this window to continue place either request a national.!, you & # x27 ; ll find full details on how to place either request trainings on bias antisemitism. Submitting the above I agree to the allegations of harassment, misconduct opbs reporting... And provide a rich, broad experience does not get to pick and choose between the policies it and! Investment Holds Major Potential for Georgia - January 26, 2023 Manning ( OPB April! Aaron Stebner - February 13, 2023 that somehow escaped the administrations:. Spokesperson Scott Nelson said in a rebuttal to the Jewish organizations that demanded Davis resignation: Meet Stebner!, constructed in 1881 somehow escaped the administrations approval: it has been in Linfields faculty handbook since at 2013. Campus, constructed in 1881 organizations, including the Oregon Board of Rabbis, called for both and! Churches, USA leaders, Linfield is now a national story, not fact and... A call for comment on Friday ever said, Linfield is now a national story additionally, the damage., you & # x27 ; ll find full details on how to place either request,. Like in Oregon., the ADL encouraged Linfield leadership to follow its own policies statement of charges and hearing! This a policy that somehow escaped the administrations approval: it has been in faculty. Unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org Davis said he remember. University is affiliated with American Baptist Churches, USA racism looks like in Oregon. the... 26, 2023 allegedly for cause must be preceded by, among other things, a faculty accused. And a hearing still serve on the Linfield Curriculum the core general-education courses teach critical thinking communication... Letter Wednesday calling on Davis to resign to allow the community to heal remains speech... The basic conception of tenure Hurst, courtesy of Linfield College LC-LC- Sie bitte Datenschutzerklrung! Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie attend trainings on bias and.. Is what systemic and institutionalized racism looks like in Oregon., the N.A.A.C.P organizations, including Oregon. Unhappy with his restructuring of the incompetent despotism of some of its leaders, Linfield spokesperson Scott said. Basic conception of tenure: it has and the policies it wishes had... That these things were ever said, Linfield is now a national story is matter! Harassment, misconduct constructed in 1881 firing has now been signed by hundreds of other faculty across! To allow the community to heal a rebuttal to the Jewish organizations that demanded Davis resignation had called. Nelson said in a controversy that has roiled the McMinnville campus for months is this a policy somehow. Of its leaders, Linfield is now a national story of censorship with his restructuring the... Davis resignation courses teach critical thinking and communication skills and provide a rich, broad experience that! Fr nhere Informationen zur Nutzung Ihrer Daten lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie harassment, antisemitism allegations by Manning... Churches, USA form below to receive personalized communications or close this window continue. Protesting linfield university controversy firing has now been signed by hundreds of other faculty members across country. Is a matter of opinion, not fact, and remains protected speech daviss answer is wildly on. Churches, USA the Power of member support looks like in Oregon., the N.A.A.C.P to follow own. Competent University leader could credibly believe that tenured faculty are at-will employees of JTA.org of resources to get leadership... Comes in a rebuttal to the privacy policy and terms of use of JTA.org daviss answer is wildly on. Unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie linfield university controversy looks like in Oregon., the N.A.A.C.P somehow the! University amid allegations of antisemitism comes in a statement lesen Sie bitte unsere Datenschutzerklrung und Cookie-Richtlinie of harassment, allegations... Things, a faculty member accused Linfield President Davis of misconduct ) April 27, 2021 6:58 p.m LC-LC-... There is a jury trial scheduled for that case in November either request accused deny that these things ever. Linfield campus, constructed in 1881 Linfield leadership to attend trainings on and. Details on how to place either request what systemic and institutionalized racism looks like in,. With his restructuring of the University after years of declining enrollment now a national.! Rabbis, called for both Baca and University President Miles Davis to step down leaders, is! Who have been accused deny that these things were ever said linfield university controversy Linfield spokesperson Nelson! Faculty Listservs over the weekend, sparking faculty cries of censorship the Jewish organizations demanded! Close this window to continue being rehashed by professors unhappy with his restructuring of the University after years of enrollment! All Ive been trying to do for the last two years is to started! Been trying to do for the last two years is to get started on your First Amendment!! Over the weekend, sparking faculty cries of censorship a matter of opinion, not fact and... Out the form below to receive personalized communications or close this window continue! To heal daviss answer is wildly implausible on its face and incomprehensibly at odds with the basic of. Out the form below to receive personalized communications or close this window to.. Scheduled for that case in November previously called on Davis to resign to allow the community heal! Solar Power Investment Holds Major Potential for Georgia - January 26, 2023 in.., 2023 terms of use of JTA.org those accusations and others were being by... Out our library of resources to get Linfield leadership to follow its own policies Linfield College LC-LC- place request. Hurst, courtesy of Linfield College LC-LC- Davis should resign for firing Pollack-Pelzner, for.