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Purveyor

(29,876 posts) Thu Jan 17, 2013, 12:00 PM Jan 2013

Professor Says He's Facing University Probe For Doubting Existence Of Newtown Shooting [View all]

By Eric W. Dolan
Wednesday, January 16, 2013 18:51 EST

A tenured professor who controversially claimed the mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut never happened is worried that he may now lose his job.

Florida Atlantic University professor James Tracy told the university’s student newspaper that the university plans to have a meeting with him later this week regarding his conspiracy theory, which he published online.

“They’re getting people calling them saying that this person shouldn’t be teaching, he’s an awful person and what have you, so I think that they have to do something,” Tracy told University Press.

“I don’t know what there’s going to be. I don’t know if that would involve stripping me of my tenure and dismissing me, or what. That’s something that’s ultimately for them to decide.”

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Professor Says He's Facing University Probe For Doubting Existence Of Newtown Shooting [View all] Purveyor Jan 2013 OP

As He Damned Well Should, Sir The Magistrate Jan 2013 #1

100% correct Sir malaise Jan 2013 #54

I'm not at all upset that he is facing a probe. Maybe they should just sinkingfeeling Jan 2013 #2

Haw-Haw! FSogol Jan 2013 #3

Good. Mass Jan 2013 #4

Send him to the next one to clean up the blood. grahamhgreen Jan 2013 #5

As he fucking should. Arkana Jan 2013 #6

Wow. DU apparently gets anti-academic freedom pretty quickly Recursion Jan 2013 #7

Doing whatever the hell you want and still being able to keep your job is insanity... Comrade_McKenzie Jan 2013 #22

I deal with Holocaust revisionism on occasion, too... derby378 Jan 2013 #31

Academic freedom =/= making whatever shit up that makes you feel good and calling it reality Electric Monk Jan 2013 #32

Now that I work in academia ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #33

+1 jberryhill Jan 2013 #38

+1,000 GodlessBiker Jan 2013 #76

you mean tenured faculty, right? Iris Jan 2013 #81

Yes ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #83

I was also thinking that if this professor had some expertise on the subject, Iris Jan 2013 #86

And ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #88

I know! It's what most professors would complain about their students doing! n/t Iris Jan 2013 #89

Yep ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #94

Within his field of research, sure jberryhill Jan 2013 #37

Tenure isn't ironclad, and I don't know why you say that obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #47

Yup. a la izquierda Jan 2013 #78

Ok, he can teach YOUR kids proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #48

Did you even read my post? Recursion Jan 2013 #49

Are you under the impression that academic freedom means to accountability for things said? Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #56

Not at all, but a lot of DU has been in the past Recursion Jan 2013 #57

Agreed, DU is free from the constraints of consistency. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #59

Who has ever said that tenure means anything goes? Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #67

I was pretty clearly setting up a strawman based on frustration in some (much) earlier threads Recursion Jan 2013 #69

OK, thank you for the explanation. Starry Messenger Jan 2013 #71

Academic freedom: saying, for instance, that the shooting might have been due to Prozac KamaAina Jan 2013 #68

He is collecting a public salary he is answerable as an employee.... Historic NY Jan 2013 #93

Why does he have to be from Florida ? Why do we have russspeakeasy Jan 2013 #8

Our state truly is a whacko-magnet. tosh Jan 2013 #13

And yet, Obama. Twice. Eleanors38 Jan 2013 #30

And Bush. Once (but also allowed him to steal it once) JHB Jan 2013 #50

Sorry Florida In the Nut Category You Are Behind Us kairos12 Jan 2013 #64

I'll see your Arpaio and raise you one Casey Anthony. russspeakeasy Jan 2013 #66

Look on the bright side! Protalker Jan 2013 #80

Some times it seems like it is. russspeakeasy Jan 2013 #87

If I were paying good money to go to Florida Atlantic University, I wouldn't want.. Tikki Jan 2013 #9

I'm a tenured professor. I am pretty sure I can be fired Doctor_J Jan 2013 #10

One of the main differences is that when someone in the teaching profession obtains tenure LiberalFighter Jan 2013 #41

Not too sure about that, kiva Jan 2013 #75

I don't think he is really a professor, was never hired Angry Dragon Jan 2013 #11

Where's his long form doctorate? randome Jan 2013 #12

I don't think he even exists. jeff47 Jan 2013 #42

conspiracy to push a conspiracy theory! Iris Jan 2013 #82

Good! WinkyDink Jan 2013 #14

Where is my tiniest violin so I can play him a weepy tune MotherPetrie Jan 2013 #15

Freedom of speech aside, this is not someone I would want to have teaching my chidren. jwirr Jan 2013 #16

It isn't a free-speech issue; the government is not considering revoking his tenure. Aristus Jan 2013 #21

Silber thought Zinn's stuff was way out there Recursion Jan 2013 #28

I think Zinn ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2013 #35

It was a stalemate Recursion Jan 2013 #36

There's no freedom of speech issue Doctor_J Jan 2013 #63

That's not the probe I'd like him to face. nt msanthrope Jan 2013 #17

The idea that a person like this is teaching at a university makes me sick. Chorophyll Jan 2013 #18

Good riddance, professor. nt Comrade_McKenzie Jan 2013 #19

Unlikely he will be fired. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #58

"Better to face a probe, than to face away from one." Robb Jan 2013 #20

LOL! tanyev Jan 2013 #70

Thanks. Robb Jan 2013 #74

hmmm, now why do I believe that the university isn't really saying anything to him? that this is niyad Jan 2013 #23

Well, yeah. Since he's insane. aquart Jan 2013 #24

Post removed Post removed Jan 2013 #25

A mental health evaluation would be an excellent start, and if he doesn't comply, RKP5637 Jan 2013 #26

I would say it makes him to fucking stupid to teach anyone. Marrah_G Jan 2013 #27

People pay a lot of money to be educated not told fantasies by some nut case. appleannie1 Jan 2013 #29

I hope he gets shit-canned and never teaches again. n/t RiffRandell Jan 2013 #34

I'm surprised Bjornsdotter Jan 2013 #39

goes back to my rule, never trust anybody with snooper2 Jan 2013 #40

Or women named Molly alcibiades_mystery Jan 2013 #43

Academic Freedom helps him somewhat, but he may have violated university policies aikoaiko Jan 2013 #44

Good obamanut2012 Jan 2013 #45

Well, he's nuts. proud2BlibKansan Jan 2013 #46

Im doubting the existence of his diploma. DCBob Jan 2013 #51

He should be removed. Rider3 Jan 2013 #52

Of course Dpm12 Jan 2013 #53

Academic freedom does not mean freedom from scrutiny. Buzz Clik Jan 2013 #55

Stop being hurtful and disruptive to the discussion, Check his "rap" sheet. RedCloud Jan 2013 #60

WE are being hurtful? Zoeisright Jan 2013 #72

good frylock Jan 2013 #61

They should ellie Jan 2013 #62

And well he should be. n/t easttexaslefty Jan 2013 #65

... I hope he does lose his job--he's an embarrassment, and shouldn't be teaching anybody! ReallyIAmAnOptimist Jan 2013 #73

What is wrong with some people these days? williamc1967txlib Jan 2013 #77

Now he feel what the poor elderly man who helped 6 children who came to his home and southernyankeebelle Jan 2013 #79

The freedom to espouse ideas tolerable to the majority is no freedom at all. What's the use of HiPointDem Jan 2013 #84

And some on DU think no planes were there on 9/11 The Straight Story Jan 2013 #85

Should be facing a medical probe. n/t 2pooped2pop Jan 2013 #90

Dumbass needs his head examined. jsr Jan 2013 #91

excellent! ibegurpard Jan 2013 #92