Opinions on "radical" teacher at CMC?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Claremont McKenna College
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<p>Here's the article:</p>

<p>One</a> Lone Student Against Terror at Claremont McKenna</p>

<p>It begins: "On one side: Charles Johnson, senior at Claremont McKenna College (CMC), majoring in government and economics.</p>

<p>On the other: the faculty, the administration, and a radical professor who praises terrorist groups and denounces both America and Israel–and happens to lead CMC’s new Middle East Studies program."</p>

<p>Please read it for the full breadth of the issue, but here are two excerpts:</p>

<p>"Controversies over the radical views of Middle East studies professors are, sadly, not unusual on American campuses. What is different about the Frangieh case is that the administration at CMC has gone to great lengths to cover up the truth about Frangieh’s views–even editing his Wikipedia page–while ignoring the voluminous evidence Johnson has presented, and while rallying the faculty to oppose and isolate Johnson."</p>

<p>&</p>

<p>"Of course Frangieh is entitled to his anti-American, anti-Israel, pro-Hamas and pro-Hezbollah views–and CMC is entitled to promote him, at the cost of its own reputation. That is academic freedom.</p>

<p>Academic freedom also means that scholars and observers can and will judge CMC harshly for its sloppy vetting process, for manipulating the evidence, for supporting a professor who embraces America’s enemies, and for the battle it has waged against a lone student for telling the truth."</p>

<p>Here's another interesting article:
Is</a> Anti-Israel Bigotry Coming to Claremont McKenna?</p>

<p>I'm not sure what to think... but it's a bit alarming. Any opinions? Or perhaps students who have seen Professor Frangieh in action and can add a bit of insight into these claims?</p>

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<p>I have heard these allegations against this professor and I have no way of knowing how accurate they are. I do know that most of what this student relies upon are Arabic resolutions signed by many academics in this country. Whether a person who signs them actually agrees with every detail embodied in the resolution is debatable.</p>

<p>This student has a history of casting aspersions and making wild unfounded allegations against a variety of people and, consequently, has very few supporters on campus. It is not because of anti-semitism at CMC, but more about his corrosive personality. Also, that second link is a bunch of baloney. CMC is not anti-semitic; in fact, it is one of the most politically balanced schools in America. There is probably much more anti-Israeli bias at many other colleges than anything you will experience at CMC.</p>

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<p>I’m the parent of a Jewish CMC student so these articles got my attention. As parent57, I have also seen some propaganda from Charles Johnson in the past, so I do take this less seriously than if it came from another source or if there were more students voicing concern. It would be interesting to see what more students working with Prof Frangieh have to say. My S who hasn’t had any courses in Arabic studies has not felt antisemitism while at CMC. I am pasting the following link so you can see the other side of the story. A few students do comment in this article.</p>

<p>[Why</a> We Support Prof. Bassam Frangieh|Claremont Port Side](<a href=“Bringing a Positive Change to Your Community”>Bringing a Positive Change to Your Community)</p>

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<p>Hi, </p>

<p>I thought I would just point out that this story has been vetted by half a dozen experts in the Middle East. All of the charges in both of those stories have been vetted as well. At Claremont McKenna, we have a professor who supports Hezbollah and Hamas. He’s also signed petitions that say a “Zionist plot” is behind America’s foreign policy. He thinks suicide bombing is justifiable. He signs petitions that call for the boycott of Israeli academics. He believes Saddam Hussein was a great leader who “really did something for his country.” Oh, and there’s more. </p>

<p>Those aren’t my opinions. That’s what the evidence – all of which I have posted at the Claremont Conservative – tells us. </p>

<p>As an aside, I’d just ask: What “propaganda”?</p>

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<p>I do not know exactly what this professor’s views are regarding Israel and Jews but one of these links strongly implies that CMC is anti-Israel and anti-semitic. This is absolutely false. I think this last poster has a responsibility not to allow this falsehood to be communicated to high school students considering CMC.</p>

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<p>ok, I’ll bite…parent 57 (much as I hate giving time to something so distasteful)</p>

<p>I am also a CMC parent and have been enjoying your comments. </p>

<p>My D told me to look for this to hit this site quite some time ago. She knows Bassam and has a lot to say on the subject, but it is late so for now I just want to reply to “I think this last poster has a responsibility not to allow this falsehood to be communicated to high school students considering CMC.”</p>

<p>So recently CMC hosted their big scholarship weekend. Those students are sharp and naturally CMC wants to make a good impression. Of course, they all saw the comments in the Claremont Conservative. I was taught that most people will eventually hang themselves if they continue to be ridiculous. Whether people agree with Mr. Johnson or not, most do not seem to be a fan of his methods. </p>

<p>Anyway, CMC did not try to play this down or avoid this when the scholarship candidates visited. Some actually visited a class where Johnson was in attendance. It was apparently obvious to them who he was after all of the noise being made in and out of the classroom. The feedback on the individual in question was less than favorable, especially on such short acquaintance. (This guy really seems to know how to make an impression!) No one was the least bit turned off by CMC because of this…they just thought it was a grab for fame. Like I said, sharp kids.</p>

<p>Thanks for the link 181818- There was a comment on Feb 25 (at the end) by Jake that summed it up fairly well.</p>

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<p>I completely agree with parent 57 and critter. My two cents is - having experience at the 5Cs - is that the poster of the article carries a personal vendetta, one person at a time. His work is not factual and is a bizarre obfuscation of the truth. Anybody who knows anything about CMC knows that it is a fair, balanced institution. The poster strives to shock and be controversial and should receive no more attention than any other student. He writes words that are patently untrue and takes things out of context, all in the name of his own viewpoint. CMC is a great school that any parent should be proud to send their child to.</p>