Hamline University could LOSE its accreditation for 'failing to protect academic freedom'

Publish date: 2024-07-24

Hamline University could lose its accreditation after a formal complaint was filed against it for firing a professor who showed a painting of Prophet Muhammed.

An attorney sent the complaint to the Higher Learning Commission saying the liberal college was 'failing to protect the academic freedom' of Professor Erika López Prater.

Meanwhile the ACLU also slammed the university for 'punishing educators for presenting controversial material'.

The 42-year-old was unceremoniously sacked after showing the 14th-century picture of the religious figure to her class last year.

Muslim student Aram Wedatalla had complained about the use of the painting – despite being warned about it ahead of time.

She claimed it offended her religion, with the liberal school firing Prater and calling the incident 'Islamophobic.'

the ACLU also slammed the university for 'punishing educators for presenting controversial material'

The ACLU also slammed the university for 'punishing educators for presenting controversial material'

Muslim student Aram Wedatalla had complained about the use of the painting ¿ despite being warned about it ahead of time

Muslim student Aram Wedatalla had complained about the use of the painting – despite being warned about it ahead of time 

Many practicing Muslims do not believe in looking at pictures of the Prophet Muhammad as they believe it may lead to worshipping an image. 

Now the American Civil Liberties Union – ACLU – has hit out at the decision to get rid of the professor.

They tweeted: 'Universities can and should regulate professional standards — but punishing educators for presenting controversial material harms academic freedom.'

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) also announced that they filed a formal complaint with the Higher Learning Commission – Hamline's accreditor.

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In a letter to the accreditor, FIRE's director Alex Morey wrote that the professor's 'nonrenewal violates both HLC and Hamline policies clearly committing the university to free expression and its corollary, academic freedom for all faculty.'

They are demanding that the professor be reinstated, adding: 'We gave Hamline plenty of time to reverse course, but it's clear they're not planning to deliver on their academic freedom promises.

'If Hamline won't listen to free speech advocates or faculty across the country, they'll have to listen to their accreditor.'

The Higher Learning Commission's mandate requires accredited institutions to provide academic freedom – something they say the University has not done.

In a letter sent out to students, Hamline University President Fayneese Miller apologized for the incident and said not offending the school's Muslim students is incredibly important

In a letter sent out to students, Hamline University President Fayneese Miller apologized for the incident and said not offending the school's Muslim students is incredibly important

Wedatalla is a member of the Muslim Student Association and gained support from Muslim students who were not in the class but called the incident an attack on their religion

Wedatalla is a member of the Muslim Student Association and gained support from Muslim students who were not in the class but called the incident an attack on their religion

Nearly 8,000 people have signed this Change.org petition in support of the fired professor

Nearly 8,000 people have signed this Change.org petition in support of the fired professor 

By firing the professor, they say it violates Hamline's strong academic freedom policy which gives faculty the right to examine 'all ideas, some of which will potentially be unpopular and unsettling.'

FIRE Program Officer Sabrina Conza added: 'Hamline has no right to dismiss an art history instructor for teaching art history.

'Hamline clearly doesn't understand what academic freedom means, even though it explicitly promises faculty this core right.'

 I am offended as a Muslim. In choosing to label this image of Muhammad as Islamophobic, in endorsing the view that figurative representations of the Prophet are prohibited in Islam, Hamline has privileged a most extreme and conservative Muslim point of view Professor Amna Khalid, who supports the fired Hamline professor

The complaint to the HLC says: 'Such nonrenewal violates both HLC and Hamline policies clearly committing the university to free expression and its corollary, academic freedom for all faculty, with Hamline claiming it 'is committed to academic freedom and celebrates free expression for everyone.

'The University embraces the examination of all ideas, some of which will potentially be unpopular and unsettling, as an integral and robust component of intellectual inquiry.'

'Accrediting agencies like HLC are often the last line of defense for faculty members 'expressive freedoms, particularly adjuncts who lack tenure protection and the resources to challenge such decisions.

'HLC's Standard 2.D. is one of the strongest protections for student and faculty expression at private institutions in the United States, and FIRE urges HLC to hold Hamline accountable for violating this laudable standard.'

Hamline University President Fayneese Miller apologized for the incident and said not offending the school's Muslim students is incredibly important.

In a letter sent out to students, she said: 'It is not our intent to place blame; rather, it is our intent to note that in the classroom incident—where an image forbidden for Muslims to look upon was projected on a screen and left for many minutes—respect for the observant Muslim students in that classroom should have superseded academic freedom.'

By firing the professor, they say it violates Hamline's strong academic freedom policy which gives faculty the right to examine 'all ideas, some of which will potentially be unpopular and unsettling'

By firing the professor, they say it violates Hamline's strong academic freedom policy which gives faculty the right to examine 'all ideas, some of which will potentially be unpopular and unsettling' 

Muslim professor Amna Khalid said Hamline 'privileged a most extreme and conservative Muslim point of view'

Muslim professor Amna Khalid said Hamline 'privileged a most extreme and conservative Muslim point of view'

A Minnesota adjunct professor who showed students a painting of the Prophet Muhammad lost her job after the incident

A Minnesota adjunct professor who showed students a painting of the Prophet Muhammad lost her job after the incident

In a statement given to DailyMail.com a Hamline University spokesman said: 'As we have stated, in the immediate aftermath of students’ expressed concerns, the University’s initial response and actions were to address our students’ concerns.

'And, contrary to what has been reported and become the story, it is important that this aspect be reported. 

'It is also important that we clarify that the adjunct instructor was teaching for the first time at Hamline, received an appointment letter for the fall semester, and taught the course until the end of the term.'

López Prater allegedly gave students a heads-up moments before the painting was shown, giving them another chance to leave the room if they didn't feel comfortable looking at the picture.

Students do not relinquish their faith in the classroom  Hamline University 

Again, no students brought any concerns or exited the classroom during the October lecture.

Wedatalla told the schools newspaper: 'As a Muslim and a Black person, I don't feel like I belong, and I don't think I'll ever belong in a community where they don't value me as a member, and they don't show the same respect that I show them.'

After the class ended, Wedatalla stuck around to speak with López Prater.

The conversation prompted the professor to sent an email to her department head, Allison Baker, to give her a heads up about the situation.

Baker, the chair of the digital and studio art department, responded by saying: 'It sounded like you did everything right.'

Deangela Huddleston, a Hamline senior and Muslim Student Association member, said of the incident: 'Hamline teaches us it doesn't matter the intent, the impact is what matters.'

A spokesperson for Hamline said López Prate 'received an appointment letter for the fall semester, and taught the course until the end of the term.'

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