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Dear Dr
Pollack, Dr Peñalver,
My name is
Gary Fouse, and I am formerly an adjunct teacher at the University of
California at Irvine, Extension (English as a Second Language-1998-2016). I am
also a retired Drug Enforcement Administration agent (1970-1995). I am now a
blogger on various issues. (http://garyfouse.blogspot.com
I am writing
to you to express my concern over the recent events surrounding Law Professor
William Jacobson over his comments on the nationwide unrest in the wake of the
George Floyd killing in Minneapolis. As one who is familiar with campus unrest
and issues of free speech, I feel compelled to write to you in defense of
Professor Jacobson and respectfully request that his rights be defended and
protected.
During my
time at the UC Irvine campus, I became involved in issues of anti-Semitism and
the intimidation and bullying of Jewish students over the issue of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. At times I was critical of the UC Irvine
administration as well as the president of the UC system itself. I must say in
all honesty, however, that the university never interfered with my First
Amendment rights, and there was never any retaliation against me.
I am glad
that Dr Peñalver has issued a statement defending Professor Jacobson’s right of
expression. I ask why, however, it was necessary to state to the campus that
Professor Jacobson’s statements are against the values of the law school. As
far as I know, Professor Jacobson has made no racist statements, rather he has
(rightly) criticized the violence, rioting, looting and arson. Therefore, I
would ask you if rioting, looting, arson and violence against police and others
reflect the values of Cornell and its law school?
In addition,
I am well aware that your own campus has suffered incidents of anti-Semitism,
swastikas, and hateful expressions against Jews in recent years. Do they reflect
the values of Cornell?
I can tell
you that as a retired law enforcement officer who has made many arrests, what
happened in Minneapolis to Mr Floyd was unconscionable. I am in full agreement
with the firing and prosecution of the officer who committed that crime as well
as the three cowardly cops who failed to stop it. I am agreement with those who
march peacefully. However, like Dr Jacobson, I condemn those who have engaged
in violence and in some cases, murder, and in that respect, I agree with Dr
Jacobson.
I am well
aware that conservatives like Professor Jacobson have few friends in academia.
The idea of free speech has become a joke on our college campuses, which are
increasingly run by the inmates, to borrow a phrase. The suppression of alternative
opinions by ideological bullies (some students, some professors) has greatly lowered
the prestige that our universities once held.
Let me
conclude by saying that the Floyd episode is a tragedy and corrective steps
must be taken. Hopefully, the violence will subside and we can let the justice system
do its job, which I am confident it will. I also hope that the toxic atmosphere
on our campuses will subside in favor of true dialogue and understanding
between all of us. I conclude by asking that Professor Jacobson’s rights and
safety be protected.
Sincerely,
Gary Fouse
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