Comments on: Teacher Terminated: University prof who complained about crosses is cut

By: Rachel Kusama

Rachel Kusama — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 07:49:02 +0000

I call shenanigans. Who has a "legal team" that consists of a playwrite, an art historian and a photographer? As an adjunct, there is no "right to work", also Texas is an "at will" state. Sissy, unfortunately doesn't have a PhD, which makes her ineligible for tenure. The school began the accreditation process this year, and there are a lot of hoops they will have to jump through. http://sacscoc.org/pdf/2012PrinciplesOfAcreditation.pdf 2.8 , 3.7.1. That is what the school is dealing with to gain their own accreditation. Currently we utilize Kingsvilles. http://www.tamusa.tamus.edu/accreditation.html The award she "got"? She was 1 of 38 from TAMUSA and 1 of hundreds from A&M. It was based on student votes. http://www.tamus.edu/assets/files/academic/pdf/TEASpring2011.pdf http://www.tamusa.tamus.edu/artsandsciences/criminology/people.html Her fellow adjuncts consisted of: 2 lawyers, 1 judge, 1 crime scene investigator, 1 federal prison warden, 1 prison counselor, 1 prison guard, a PhD who was founder of the Experimental CHild Psychology Journal, a Clinical Psychologist who specializes in substance abuse therapy and a hostage negotiator (who also wrote the book and is quoted in hundreds of peer reviewed research articles.) As for the harassment – it wasn't enough to meet legal thresholds. 1 email that is all over the web (so, I don't need to repeat it.), 1 calling her an ***hole and a Christmas card. The stuff that was said on websites is no different that what is being uttered on her facebook, the atheist sites and here. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the bounce from "I require my students to memorize passages from the bible" to Atheism, to "I was discriminated against for being Jewish"; her "legal" team needs to pick something and stick with it. Or hire a real lawyer to handle ALL media communications.

By: James Kessler

James Kessler — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 04:48:34 +0000

Zac..there was already a response from the University…they fired her. What part of that did you miss?

By: Jeffrey Perkins

Jeffrey Perkins — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:30:27 +0000

Yes she shouldn't be receiving those death threats or have been fired (if it was specifically for that). However, your point about Islamic crescent vs the crosses doesn't make any sense in this instance because the Islamic people/faith has little to do with the history of the San Antonio area. The crosses are a tribute to history and heritage. So yes, public funds can be used for it in this context of history and heritage because it is not promoting or ordaining a national faith. If the government were to have a reason to put the Islamic crescent on public property other than ordaining or promoting a national faith, then it wouldn't matter what all those other Christians think about it, it's still constitutional.

By: James Kessler

James Kessler — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:03:43 +0000

Sure there's space enough, Cooper, for religious symbols for every religion on the planet? And atheism? And how fast do you think quite a lot of Christians would object to the symbols of other religions being put up?

By: James Kessler

James Kessler — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 01:01:46 +0000

It's still public property, Jeffrey. But tell me…how fast do you think those Christians would have objected if some Muslim tried getting the Islamic crescent put up? She shouldn't have been fired and she shouldn't be getting death threats. Those two reasons alone are enough to justify her position.

By: Jeffrey Perkins

Jeffrey Perkins — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:36:21 +0000

This is pretty ridiculous. It's not like these were huge crosses being built on the tower…they were small, aesthetic adornments that were meant to recall the origin of the San Antonio area and most of the Southwestern U.S., which were Spanish missions. This was more a nod to that than of promoting Christianity. Link: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/education/article/Crosses-stir-complaint-at-A-M-2247007.php#photo-1725827 Pictures are also on there.

By: Zac Osburn

Zac Osburn — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:16:27 +0000

Well, you sound like a pretty big douche-bag. Welcome to the internet.

By: Scott Villalpando

Scott Villalpando — Mon, 28 May 2012 15:23:55 +0000

Pardon my double negative

By: Grady Smith

Grady Smith — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:27:36 +0000

The few individuals defense is interesting, cuz its a few individuals in the admin, and a few students who are threatening, and a few community members as well. At some point, these multiple sets of a few individuals should probably be considered many individuals, perhaps even several. So Zac, A & M should get a pass for what looks like some pretty institutionalized bigotry because they have done some other good things? Did you take any logic classes while at a & m, I am just a poor simple country biologist but I think you might want to look up non sequitur. Overall, you sound like everyone who has ever excused bigotry or atrocities.

By: Nancy

Nancy — Sun, 27 May 2012 21:47:37 +0000

Jesus did not pay for anyone’s sins to be washed away. Jesus is part of an elaborate story told to people by the priests to keep them in line. Hell also does not exist though many religious people try to make it exist here on earth. As for your shut the hell up comment see the previous sentence.