The Case of Professor Gordon Klein at UCLA

Orange County Rabbi Dov Fischer has written an important piece in The American Spectator on the suspension of UCLA accounting professor Gordon Klein. I am cross-posting it here. Fischer was actually a student of Klein's at UCLA and what struck me was the fact that Klein would never express his political opinions in the classroom. That was the position I took when I taught English to foreign students at UC Irvine for 18 years-though I was very active in causes on campus outside the classroom.

Here is Rabbi Fischer's article.

https://spectator.org/and-now-a-ucla-crucifix-for-prof-gordon-klein-along-academias-appian-way/

There is little to add other than to express my agreement with Rabbi Fischer. We are living in perilous times now. The fascism that I personally observed at UC Irvine, which was tolerated if not encouraged by faculty and administrators, is now in open view on our streets.

Professor Klein crossed the line of political correctness in trying to explain to a student why special consideration should not be given to a certain class of students. In addition to his suspension, he has been threatened and in need of police protection. This is an intolerable situation on our college campuses.

It is ultimately demeaning to black people in general that they should always be given special consideration because of our troubled racial history. Let's be honest: There are many blacks who do not want special treatment, only equal treatment, and that is worth supporting. There are also many paternalistic whites who practice their virtue signalling by demanding that blacks be treated as handicapped children who cannot get through life without help from liberal whites.

Having recently written about the harassment of Cornell Law Professor William Jacobson, I am gratified that Rabbi Fischer continues to follow the goings on in academia because this is where much of this current insanity was incubated.

I'm sure some people must be writing letters to UCLA and the Anderson School of Management, and I plan to join in. If you wish to support Professor Klein, you may write to:

Dean Antonio Bernardo
UCLA Anderson School of Management
antonio.bernardo@anderson.ucla.edu

Gene Block
Chancellor
chancellor@ucla.edu


Please be respectful.


*Update: Below is the text  of the email I have sent this evening to Chancellor Block and Dean Bernardo:

Dear Chancellor Block/Dean Bernardo,

My name is Gary Fouse, and I am a former adjunct teacher at UC Irvine Extension (English as second language). I am writing to express my deep concern over the suspension and overall treatment of  accounting Professor Gordon Klein. 

As you know, we are living in difficult times, and the Klein issue is connected to the unrest we are experiencing today stemming from the police killing of George Floyd. As a retired law enforcement officer (DEA), there is no way I can justify the police action that caused Mr Floyd's death. I support the prosecution, and I support the peaceful protests. What I do not support is the violence and rioting that has ensued. Nor do I support thought controls especially in academia. We should not be training our children to become fascists. What are UCLA students to make about what is happening to Professor Klein? 

The fact that Professor Klein refused to grant special treatment to his African-American students is no cause for the actions taken against him, not just his suspension, but threats against him that require police protection. That is unconscionable on a university campus.

I would hope that the suspension of Professor Klein will be reconsidered.

Respectfully,

Gary  Fouse