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House bill sparks dispute
by Kim Nguyen
Photo by Joshua Lawton
Special to The Metropolitan
University of Colorado President Elizabeth Hoffman, left, addresses the Colorado House Education Committee Feb. 25 in the old Supreme Court Chambers at the Capitol. Rep. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield, right, is the sponsor of House Bill 1315.
State lawmakers are currently debating a bill opponents say would have
a “chilling effect” on college and university professors across
Colorado.
Under
House Bill 1315, also known as the “Student Bill of Rights,”
educators would be banned from discriminating or creating a hostile environment
for students based on their political or religious beliefs.
It also requires the governing boards of colleges and universities to
adopt policies and procedures enforcing students’ rights.
Supporters of the measure, sponsored by Rep. Shawn Mitchell, R-Broomfield,
say the rules need to be in place to protect students who feel intimidated
or threatened by professors. They claim the professors are giving them
low grades and are making classes more difficult for them.
Metro has policies and procedures in place for students who believe they
are being discriminated against by faculty members.
“The college treats seriously and thoroughly any and all complaints
by students according to these existing policies and procedures,”
said Metro Interim President Ray Kieft in an e-mailed statement.
Lawmakers, who voted in favor of the bill in a House committee meeting
Feb. 25, said they witnessed some of the concerns when a heated confrontation
unfolded in front of them.
University of Colorado at Boulder student Ian Van Buskirk testified in
support of the bill that day telling committee members, “Let’s
send a chilling effect to these faculty members.” When Van Buskirk
finished his testimony, he was confronted by Metro philosophy professor
Tim Gould.
Van Buskirk told committee members Gould said to him, “Send a chilling
message, and I’ll sue your (expletive deleted) in court.”
The two got within an inch from each others’ face, said House
Majority Leader Keith King, who witnessed the squabble.
“He (Gould) was doing exactly the same thing the bill is designed
to prevent from happening,” he said.
Gould got into another confrontation with a young woman from the ROTC
after his bout with Van Buskirk, King said. “The professor came
up to her and intimidated her.”
Gould could not be reached for comment.
The bill’s opponents say the bill is unnecessary and is being pushed
by conservatives who think colleges and universities across the state
are too liberal.
“This is just another attempt to take away another aspect of public
life,” said Rep. Merrifield, D-Manitou Springs. “School vouchers,
redistricting lines, Academic Bill of Rights…these are frightening
attempts of dictatorship.”
Merrifield said conservative students should speak out about their beliefs
instead of creating laws to hide behind. “Get a backbone, stand
up for your beliefs, and use the system.”
The bill would also send to prospective students and professors outside
of Colorado an incorrect message that the lack of academic freedom is
such a severe problem that law must be enacted.
“HB 1315 sends the message that academic freedom isn’t present
within Colorado’s institutions of higher education since HB 1315
is perceived to limit a faculty member’s ability…to present
materials and engage in discussions with students,” Kieft said.
“Faculty candidates that Metro wishes to attract to the College
will shy away from joining the College in fear of being restricted in
their ability to exercise academic freedom.”
The possibility of not being able to recruit quality educators might
also affect enrollment numbers.
“It creates what we call a ‘brain drain,’” said
Rep. Angie Paccione, D-Fort Collins. “This bill creates an environment
that sends away our best and brightest elsewhere.”
The bill will be addressed on the House floor later this week. For more
information on House Bill 1315 and other bills being carried this legislative
session, visit the Colorado General Assembly’s Web site at http://www.leg.state.co.us.
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