Jonathan Turley Takes Look at Maine Community College’s Actions

On Thursday, I wrote about a community college student in Maine who ran into a brick wall with regard to a paper she had to write for a class. It was a persuasive essay, and the teacher not just rejected her pro-gun topic but also mocked her decision to take that position after discussing her Christian faith.

I found the whole thing rather disgusting, especially as I’ve known teachers whose own politics were vastly different from the students whose papers they graded, and they were able to objectively grade politically-focused papers without an issue. I didn’t think about that until over the weekend, but yeah. I knew the professor pretty well, actually, and had even campaigned for him for city commissioner. He was and is a good guy, even if we now disagree on a lot.

It’s how it should be. Unless the assignment specifically called for an apolitical topic, the professor should have sucked it up.

Georgetown University law professor and political commentator Jonathan Turley heard about the case and weighed in.

You’re not likely to be shocked here.

Parker says that she spoke to EMCC Dean of Academics Lynn Hunter, who “assured me that discrimination was not tolerated at the community college, but she did not give me a clear answer when I asked her how she felt about what the teacher said to me — she assured me that she would be getting both sides of the story.”

While she says that Hunter “apologized for what I was going through,” there is no evidence of disciplinary action against Lewandowski.

Dr. Lesley Gillis, Chair, English & Co-Chair, Liberal Studies was also cc’ed on the email.

Such abuse of a student over political and religious views should result in the termination of the professor. However, we have seen a high-level of toleration (and even support for) anti-conservative and anti-Republican positions by faculty. That includes teachers in Maine calling for Trump supporters to be “taken out.”

…

We have not heard directly from Professor Lewandowski, but these communications are shocking. If true, the failure of the community college to take action immediately against Lewandowski is a chilling reminder of how higher education has lost its moorings. By retaining Lewandowski, the college is not just allowing but facilitating such abuse of students.

More importantly, this type of raw political bias and abuse does not occur outside of an enabling culture. Lewandowski not only felt that she had a license to oppose a religious or conservative student, but cc’ed her superiors to show Parker that she had little concern over any disciplinary response.

This is a teacher who has clearly stated that she finds opposing sides “triggering” and cannot grade papers which advance views with which she has “disdain.” A mere shrug and apology is hardly sufficient.

Turley provides examples of incredibly hostile language from professors toward figures associated with the political right that have been tolerated time and time again, but Professor Lewandowski is triggered by a student simply offering up her take on why red flag laws are a bad idea?

I find that downright fascinating still.

But as Turley notes, we’ve continued to see a lot of one-way treatment regarding politics on college campuses. Anything pro-gun is to be mocked, belittled, and dismissed, while any argument seeking to curtail our right to keep and bear arms is to be coddled and celebrated.

And to essentially mock Parker’s faith in the process isn’t just political bias. Yes, it’s discrimination. Most colleges seem to agree with this, too, because if you mock Islam, for example, you’re treated as if you just assaulted every Muslim student on campus with a baseball bat.

The fact that the school has taken no action doesn’t surprise me. I doubt they will until and unless the backlash becomes so severe they have no other choice but to take that action.

Maine isn’t exactly the most likely place to see that backlash reach the point where the school’s hand is forced, either.

It’s absolutely disgusting that this is what happens on college campuses, but it’s not shocking anymore. This is par for the course, and the fact that I’m so used to seeing it is another thing that should be shocking.