Flag-burning 'lesson' provokes UM student
By Toni-Lynn Robbins
Saturday, November 03, 2007 - Bangor Daily News


ORONO, Maine - A University of Maine student alleges her former professor offered extra credit to class members if they burned the American flag or the U.S. Constitution or were arrested defending free speech.
On the first day of class, associate professor Paul Grosswiler offered the credit to members of his History of Mass Communications class, according to sophomore Rebekah McDade. Disturbed by the comment, McDade dropped the class and intends to take the course again next semester with a different professor.

"I was offended," McDade said Friday. "I come from a family of military men and women, and the flag and Constitution are really important symbols to me because of my family background."
In an e-mail responding to a request for comment from the Bangor Daily News on Friday, Grosswiler said he thought McDade misunderstood the class discussion, which was intended to elicit thought about the First Amendment. He said he has held this same discussion for years without incident.

"I don’t intend for students to burn either the Constitution or the flag, and over the years hundreds of students have understood that," Grosswiler wrote.

The incident was made public recently when The Leadership Institute, a Virginia-based nonprofit organization, distributed a press release detailing the classroom discussion.

The Leadership Institute was founded in 1979 by Morton Blackwell and has a mission to identify, recruit, train and place conservatives in politics, government and the media, according to the organization’s Web site.

A field representative for the institute met McDade on Oct. 1 at UM, when she shared her experience and expressed an interest in spearheading a group "Students for Academic Freedom," Blackwell said Friday.

The group’s initial goal would be to convince UM to enact a "Student Bill of Rights," as other colleges have, which would protect students from professors who treat and grade students differently based on religious or political beliefs, McDade said. The institute has assisted McDade in the startup process, she said.

"When we heard the story, we said ‘Hey, this is probably worthwhile our doing a news release,’" Blackwell said. "When you expose leftist abuses, it invigorates conservatives. I am sure that the administration, like most administrations we deal with, is not happy when leftist abuses come to life. They far prefer to have students under their thumb and indoctrinated."

McDade said Friday she was a little uncomfortable with the publicity and that it might have gotten out of hand. She said her intent was not to put the focus on Grosswiler, but to give students an opportunity to voice their concerns.

A journalism and political science double major, McDade said the first class of her fall semester at UM began with the typical syllabus introduction and class overview. Despite repeated "liberal" comments made by Grosswiler, McDade said, she was not uncomfortable in the classroom until the flag burning comment.

"Everyone is entitled to their own political beliefs, and more power to you if you are passionate about it," McDade said.

When Grosswiler listed the extra-credit opportunities, McDade said the class of approximately 50 students grew very quiet, and some questioned whether he was serious.

At first, student Kathleen Dame said she thought Grosswiler was joking, but then he went on to explain to the class that burning the flag was not illegal. While Grosswiler approached the topic in a serious manner, Dame said she felt he used it as a tool to educate the class on the First Amendment.

"It was pretty outlandish and [he was] trying to prove a point," Dame said Friday.

While McDade said she would not be surprised if students followed through with the flag burning, Dame disagreed.

UM spokesman Joe Carr said Friday that Grosswiler’s classroom comments were not intended to be taken literally and that extra credit would not be granted for carrying out such activities.

A second person in the class did submit a complaint about the lecture, but Carr did not know in what form it was filed.

When asked whether the university would pursue disciplinary action, Carr replied, "No."

He said Grosswiler has worked at the University of Maine since 1991, is one of the more veteran professors in the department of communication and journalism, and is a "well-respected member of the faculty."

In his e-mail Friday, Grosswiler, who is a former BDN employee, explained that he refers to provocative examples, such as flag burning, to demonstrate the courage necessary to support free expression.

"If they don’t tolerate thought that they hate, they don’t believe in the First Amendment," he wrote.

"I applaud the student’s exercise of free expression. If she had stayed in the class, I would have given her extra credit for publicizing her opinions."

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A Liberal is a Man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel (Robert Frost 1874-1963).

Right,,,,never take a Liberal Professor "Literally". Ever wonder how much students waste on Professors they can't believe?

UM spokesman Joe Carr said Friday that Grosswiler’s classroom comments were not intended to be taken literally and that extra credit would not be granted for carrying out such activities.

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A Liberal is a Man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel (Robert Frost 1874-1963).

I find this method of teaching the first admendment to be distrubing to say the least. Seems to me that common sense isn't required of college professors these days.

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An informed voter scares the Goverment lackeys.

An American first and always a Conservative.

Whens the last time you heard of a Liberal Professor having to "Earn a Living"? Their main function is to castigate, berate, and belittle our entire History as America.

Much the same as our avowed Enemies trying to kill us all.

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A Liberal is a Man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel (Robert Frost 1874-1963).

I dont belive this bullshit.

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Cussing out low class inbreds isnt uninteligent, its honest

Good typing is not inteligent its dexiteritous.

Everything you just said is total bullshit

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V8Ek...eature=related

I wonder if college students can opt of classes if they don't believe in a prof's political ideology?

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUHXHRHguj4

Mr. Stockbroker
"As a matter of opinion though possibly retarded WVpeach is still smarter than you. LOL"

It all depends on what they decide to Major in. In order to get a Degree, certain Courses are Mandatory. Now, what anybody needs a Course in "History of Mass Communications" for, I won't even hazard a guess.

Take care.

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A Liberal is a Man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel (Robert Frost 1874-1963).

Yes, I know that. But, I wonder if a lib/cons could opt of a lib/cons class? I had this one really whacked out English teacher, but stayed because she amused me.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUHXHRHguj4

Mr. Stockbroker
"As a matter of opinion though possibly retarded WVpeach is still smarter than you. LOL"

Ya know. This is really funny, because I had a political history professor that was VERY republican, as were most of the kids in his class. I was a non-trad at the time, and his class challenged me to understand my political beliefs, and to stand up for my convictions. Kids tend to believe as their parents believe, in general, until someone or life itself challenges those beliefs.

I had a Marketing class profession, that was obviously very republican. In his class he taught the kids to limit their potential, but implying that only big businesses were worth anything. He would not even mention generic anything, and got perterbed when we non-trads brought it up and insisted that he was ignore a HUGE market share.

I never would have thought of opting out of either one of these classes, as I don't mind challenges, and don't feel threatened by differing opinions.

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http://nwyc.com/
National Write Your Congressman

I would like to see what the syllabus ACTUALLY says. I know when I hand them out to my college students they pick certain things out...I do see a great deal of perspective from the student here (that is fine...but...). And, students don't have great deal of questions after you hand out a syllabus...again, perspective is involved here. Yes, if you do not like burning the flag in any way shape or form then you should probably transfer from this guy’s class...it is still legal though. I had a psychology prof that had some very strange views about marriage but I stayed in the class and...well...whatever...

I got into one of these types of discussions in class this morning that I had to explain to the student after class the specifics of what the lesson was. Being in college is about seeing different things from different angles but also learning the basic rules of a discipline so you can make it work world. Two things go on at once.