SUU had good reason for firing

Much of what has been printed in newspapers regarding the firing of Professor Stephen C. Roberds is less than accurate. For various reasons (privacy and gentlemanly conduct come to mind) the administration of Southern Utah University has not responded to such inaccuracies. I am not under the same constraints and so offer the following comments as a differing opinion and in defense of the faculty, administration and policies of SUU.

Roberds claims that, among other reasons, he was fired because "he used the f-word in class during a heated debate with a student" and that the reasons "changed by the day." Regardless, neither statement is correct. Neither is it correct to imply that Roberds' misbehavior in October in using the f-word in class was a one-time thing as a review of past publications of The Journal (the student newspaper) will show.

For example and as reported in The Journal, in the spring of 2004 students organized a demonstration in support of traditional marriage that Roberds attended. Roberds is captured on video ranting at a student, ridiculing the purpose of the demonstration and calling the student names. Given Roberds' position of authority in relation to the student, such behavior is inexcusable. That ranting and name-calling also was not Roberds' first offense.

Roberds states he was fired because he was not collegial and that he does not know what collegiality means. SUU Policy 6.28: Faculty Responsibilities is SUU's definition of collegiality, and this policy is available to Roberds in an online document. Part of that definition is: "Faculty members will provide a respectful atmosphere and not reward agreement or penalize disagreement with their views on controversial topics." I submit that Roberds' admission of using the f-word in class to a student, and of ranting at a student and calling the student names is evidence of not being collegial.

Roberds states there is a "dominant culture" at SUU where those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints fit in best. A majority of the faculty of the campus (including myself) are members of the LDS Church, and it may be that such individuals fit in best on campus. But the SUU culture is not one that rejects all others. Dr. Abe Harraf, the provost of the university, three of the six academic deans, and some faculty are not members of the dominant culture. There is a place at SUU for people of all opinions and religions.