Student files complaint against prof
by Lindsay Sandham
The Metropolitan
A new complaint has been filed against Metro political science professor
Oneida Meranto, alleging she teaches a politically biased class and discriminates
against conservative students.
Metro student William Pierce wrote a letter to Metro’s equal opportunity
office accusing Meranto of attacking Republicans during her lecture on
the first day of class.
Last year, Metro students George Culpepper and Nick Bahl, who were both
members of Auraria College Republicans at the time, each filed complaints
against Meranto charging her with political bias in the classroom.
A heated debate took place after David Horowitz visited the campus in
an effort to launch his Academic Bill of Rights, a bill designed to protect
students’ political views and their right to express them.
The proposal did not become a law.
Bahl filed a complaint with the dean’s office after Meranto kicked
him out of class last November.
Culpepper said he was forced to drop Meranto’s class because he
did not think he would be graded fairly since at the time he was president
of the ACR.
In a Denver Post article published Dec. 19, Meranto was quoted as saying
Culpepper had not done enough work and knew he wouldn’t pass, which
sparked criticism from Culpepper because he felt she disclosed information
about his personal academic records.
Metro interim President Ray Kieft filed a notice of disciplinary action
against Meranto Aug. 9, not for the political bias charges by Culpepper
and Bahl, but for violating the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act,
which requires that professors have students’ permission before
releasing personal academic information.
“I believe…a warning is sufficient for the disclosure of
Mr. Culpepper’s confidential information,” Kieft said in the
notice. “Inherent in my actions is my belief that you have learned
from the experience, and I trust that you will not repeat behaviors like
these...I cannot find that any action you took, or any statement you made
as a college faculty member was motivated by a desire to punish students
for their views,” he also said.
In a letter published by Meranto Aug. 25 she said, “For nine months,
College Republicans fabricated information about me in order to make me
into the poster child for liberal leaning professors.” At press
time, Meranto could not be reached for comment.
Pierce said in his complaint letter that he went into Meranto’s
class knowing nothing of her previous controversies. However, he did say
he received the opinion of a friend, who indicated she was very liberal.
“This was not a problem in the past and I did not anticipate one
in this case,” he said. “My perception of Dr. Meranto was
not going to be formed for me.”
Director of Equal Opportunity Percy Morehouse confirmed that an official
complaint has been filed against Meranto and an investigation will take
place.
“The college has a process in place that faculty, staff and students
can access when they claim they have been treated unprofessionally,”
he said.
Current president of the ACR Jesse Samora said the College Republicans
do not wish to be involved in this situation.
“To my knowledge, Mr. Pierce does have a valid complaint against
Meranto,” he said. “We (the College Republicans) are trying
to avoid the same situation that happened last year with George and Nick.”
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