College reinstates professor accused of berating Muslim students

By The Associated Press

12.13.01

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Orange Coast College professor Ken Hearlson at home on Dec. 11 in Costa Mesa, Calif., during his paid suspension.

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Orange Coast College officials have reinstated a professor placed on paid leave after a heated classroom discussion with Muslim students who said he called them Nazis, terrorists and murderers.

Ken Hearlson will return to the classroom with the beginning of the new semester on Jan. 18, college officials said on Dec. 11.

Hearlson was cleared by an independent counsel who concluded that charges he called students Nazis, terrorists and murderers shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks were "unsubstantiated."

Hearlson still received a letter of reprimand from the college president, however, and will appeal that, attorney Michelle Reinglass said after Hearlson's reinstatement was announced. She added that Hearlson might also take legal action.

The case is seen by Hearlson and his supporters as an example of political correctness trampling on the rights of free speech and academic freedom in the aftermath of Sept. 11. Critics respond that Hearlson has a history of making inflammatory remarks in his 18 years at the college and that he unfairly harangued the students.

"We're pleased he'll be able to go back to teaching, but we felt if he was to receive a letter, it should have been a letter of apology," Reinglass said. She declined to reveal the letter's contents.

College spokesman Jim Carnett would not confirm Hearlson was reprimanded, saying that involved a personnel matter.

Two days after the discussion in Hearlson's Introduction to Politics class, the 57-year-old professor was placed on paid leave. Days after that, Orange County Department of Education attorney Geraldine Jaffe was asked to investigate.

Four students complained that Hearlson attacked them personally during the discussion, which he acknowledged was "spirited."

Tapes of the exchange, transcripts of which Jaffe reviewed, were submitted as evidence.

"Based on my interviews with 19 students, three district administrators, the course assistant, teacher's aide, one professor, the interview with Ken Hearlson, and my review of all the documents including e-mails, letters, and the three transcripts, my conclusions are that most of the allegations made by the Muslim students against Ken Hearlson are unsubstantiated," Jaffe said in her report, released by the college on Dec. 11.

At one point, according to one of the transcripts, Hearlson said he "absolutely" did not mean to accuse any student personally.

"I am talking about Arab nations," he said.

At another point, he used the word "you," when talking to one of the students, Mooath Saidi, about terrorism. But after that was pointed out to him he apologized.

Saidi declined to comment on Hearlson's reinstatement. "I have a lot to say, but I don't want to rush into it," he said.

Hearlson, who says he is a conservative, born-again Christian, complained that the college was out to get him.

"My belief and my family's belief is they wanted to fire me and the school saw these charges by the Muslim students as a chance to fire me and stop my teaching at Orange Coast College," he told the Associated Press shortly before this week's decision was announced.

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