About 1300 people have signed the petition asking DePaul University to reinstate instructor Thomas Klocek, who was dismissed “for allegedly offending Muslim students when discussing Christian interests in Israel, disputing that Israeli treatment of Palestinians was akin to the Nazi treatment of the Jews and then terminating the discussion when it appeared that the students were more interested in Israel-bashing than discussing the issues.”
Some highlights from the comment section of the petition:
- Cambridge University Professor David Abulafia, who says, “These are the methods of the Spanish Inquisition. Others can say whether they breach the US Constitution, but I am sure they do.”
- USN Lieutenant Haakon B. Dahl, who says, “Busted. Put him back, or accept the label of cowards.”
- Harvard Assistant Professor Selwyn Oskowitz, MD., who says, “The university is one sided in its action to appease one sector who were also not academic in what they pronounced.”
- DePaul University Professor Morry Fiddler, who says, “If I’m not there for a colleague, then who will be there for me?”
- DePaul Alumn Jennifer Moore, who says, “Professor Thomas Klocek was one of my favorite faculty members…The punishment he has gone through already is unjustified but in the eyes of those that know him will not damage this great educator’s credibility.”
- New York University Associate Professor Dov Fried, who says, “As Joseph Welch said…Have you no sense of decency?”
- And finally, Loyola student Jerome Bartholomew, who says, “Hey DePaul! God called, he wants his university back!”