Last fall, DePaul University professor Thomas Klocek was suspended without a hearing for challenging the viewpoints of certain Muslim students on campus at a student activities fair. He is now demanding a public apology from the university president in order to avoid litigation.
Klocek showed up to the news conference bound and gagged, illustrating what he believes the university did to him by censoring his views on the Middle East. Klocek says he was unfairly suspended for his views on the Muslim and Palestinian people.
"The students claimed professor Klocek's arguments were racist and hurt their feelings. They went to the dean of the school and 10 days after the debate the professor was suspended without a hearing," said John Mauck, Klocek's attorney.
DePaul University released a statement Tuesday that said the "case is not one of academic freedom, but rather one of inappropriate behavior outside the classroom by a university professional. His attitude was threatening and disrespectful to students."
TRANSLATION: He did not show the proper Dhimmintude toward the holy Islamic students....
DePaul student Ben Myer witnessed Klocek arguing with the group students for justice in Palestine.
"As I was walking over, professor Klocek was explaining to my colleagues that there was no such thing as Palestinians, that they don't exist. He made aggressive gestures toward the students. He approached in a very confrontational way," Myer said.
A number of professors and DePaul students support Klocek and believe he has been treated unjustly.
"I came to the conclusion that the administration has exercised rather poor judgment in this matter," said Jonathan Cohen, DePaul University professor.
"This is an injustice. He is a man of integrity, a man of faithfulness and honor," said Vanessa Summers, DePaul student.
Klocek is an untenured adjunct professor. He has been with DePaul for 14 years. He was suspended with pay.
The university was in the process of rehiring him to teach a writing class in the spring quarter with the condition that his class be monitored.