The professor allegedly used the term “wetbacks” in class, a derogatory expression used to describe immigrants who have crossed the Mexican border illegally. Brandeis University moved swiftly and decisively to correct the situation by placing a monitor in his class, but a faculty committee says the university threatened the professor’s academic freedom to remedy a situation that it hadn’t fully investigated.
The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities at Brandeis University has issued a scathing report that criticizes a top administrator, claiming that her investigation into racist remarks allegedly made by Dr. Donald Hindley, a professor of political science, lacked thoroughness and impartiality.
Hindley, who teaches courses in Latin American Studies, was forced last month to undergo anti-discrimination training and submit to having his courses monitored by a university administrator after several students charged that he had repeatedly made racist comments in his classes against Mexicans and other minorities. He was later charged with violating the university’s non-discrimination and harassment policy and received a harsh rebuke from Provost Marty Krauss.
“I, as provost, am extremely concerned for the welfare of the university’s students … the university will not tolerate inappropriate, racial and discriminatory conduct by members of its faculty,” Krauss wrote in a letter to Hindley last month. “I sincerely hope that you will recognize the seriousness of this matter and take affirmative steps to correct your conduct. Failure to do so may result in further disciplinary action up to, and, including termination,” the letter concluded.
But in its report released last week, the independent faculty committee — made up of five professors who teach in different departments from Hindley — charge that Krauss did not launch a thorough investigation into the alleged racist comments and urge that any punitive measures against Hindley be revoked immediately.
“We find that … [Krauss’] decision failed to take proper account of the multiple and fatal procedural flaws in the implementation of university harassment policies, a failure that itself violates Professor Hindley’s right under the faculty handbook to fair and equitable treatment under those policies,” said the report. “The discipline imposed on the basis of those policies was excessive, and should also have been suspended during the period of our review, and her actions to date pose a threat to Professor Hindley’s academic freedom and to that of other faculty and students, a matter on which we retain an active interest.”
Krauss did not return several phone calls, and Hindley did not respond to repeated e-mail and phone requests seeking comment. The students who made the complaints have not publicly commented on the allegedly racist comments and could not be reached for comment.
