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ACRI: Lecturer's rights violated
Ilana Curiel
Published: 04.07.10, 23:59
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31 Talkbacks for this article
1. BGU hypocrisy
Arie ,   BaGolan   (07.05.10)
They terminate a lecturer make unacceptable comments against Gays, but other lecturers at BGU that harass, insult, and ban Tzahal soldiers from classes are OK. BG is turning in his grave
2. Professors are free to express themselves but personal
Rachel ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (07.05.10)
comments or opinions such as those expressed by Professor Leavitt do not belong in the classroom. He is there to teach not lecture about his personal views on topics such as human sexuality. The students have a right to be taught in an atmosphere free of harassment and offensive comments. This is why he was removed. Groups such as ACRI should just butt out. This is not about free speech but about sexual harassment which should never be condoned in society. His comment about attraction to the opposite sex is also sexual harassment and I hope that the students he offended will address his remarks in the appropriate fashion. People should understand the difference between having personal views and expressing them in private in a non-educational forum and saying things in a classroom which hurt or offend someone's sensitivities.
3. #2
(07.05.10)
IDS reserve soldiers and new immigrants are offended and harassed by Neve Gordon's comments. Do you demand that Neve Gordon be dismissed?
4. Rachel..your hypocrisy shines thru
Arie ,   BaGolan   (07.05.10)
The silence of the TA lefties outshines itself today. When BGU refused to take action against lecturers attacking the soldiers of Tzahal and demanding they be evicted from classrooms, the TA lefties kept silent. Either expressions should be kept silent in all matters or none! Our soldiers protect us daily. Attacking soldiers affect our - and your -- security. Why do you not offer the same demands in those scenarios as well?
5. His Rights?
Avi ,   Israel   (07.05.10)
Well at least he has some rights to be violated. As a gay man i find this so called proffessor an insult not only to gay people but to intellegence. Spreading homophobic lies and ignorance is what lead to 2 young poeple being murdered in cold blood. He should be fired immediatly. Being gay is not a choice , you either are are not and nothing will change that. Such ignorance from a so called proffessor is indeed woryiny he is not fit to teach , brainwashing young minds with homophobia.
6. I do not agree with his position but the fact that these Uni
The Dude   (07.05.10)
willingly accept Profs who call for boycotts against their own institutions and do not get the same treatment, screams of a bias for a left wing ideology and indoctrination. The fact is that in a bioethics course it's common to have a Prof give his/her opinion. And the students should have made this into an important point of discussion. The fact that many other Profs at BGU and other institutions make offensive comments to students dressed in IDF uniforms or against the institution which grants them employment is as equally offensive, yet goes unpunished. This is simply a politicized decision.
7. Rachel #2
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (07.05.10)
If everyone was as thin skinned as you are no teacher would ever dare to open his or her mouth. Professor Leavitt may have said things that are disagreable to some but nothing he said was offensive. Unless of course your looking to take offense with anyone who does not agree with you. I pity the teachers that have students like you in their classrooms.
8. #2
Tatyana ,   USA   (07.05.10)
What in the world are you talking about? Sexual harrassment? Maybe too much information, you can argue with that but let's not abuse the severity of the term sexual harrassment. Also it depends on what was being discussed in the classroom, if they were talking about human sexuality which it sounds like they were I dont see how Professor Leavitt explaining his point of view is out of line at all. This just seems like a clear case of a professor's views that arent in line with the majority and he's being punished for it. Remember Rachel, you seem like a lefty and probably a strong democratic supporter, in a true democracy the minority has a say and has rights too. Another woman using sexual harrassment frivolously and when it really happens people dont take it as seriously.
9. #2: You have NO idea how contradictory
Israeli 2   (07.05.10)
and ridicilous you are in your talkback. You want to appear to be "intellectual" and progressive......WOW! You are wrong big time! Every professor is a lecturer and they all inject some if not alot of their personal views in each lecture. This whole thing boils down to PRO or ANTI Torah viewpoints.
10. Whoever said it the logic is impeccable
Eliyahu Konn ,   Yrushalayim   (07.05.10)
"Leavitt made the comment in order to show that all sexual urges could be overcome, including homosexual ones." And he is a "secular" too. This type of man must be stopped. Seculars are suppose to support the destruction of Yisrael but this man isn't. No wonder he has to go. I was going to say this is hypocritical but it is very consistent to keep the ones that would destroy us and fire ones that would strengthen us. Oh and the management is so strong to "stand behind its decision." You mean hide behind. Makes choosing a University in Yisrael that much easier.
11. He could have chosen discussion without promoting hatred.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (07.05.10)
That is why he needed to be fired.
12. Draconian
Sam ,   Be'er Sheva   (07.05.10)
As a former student of Dr. Leaviit i can attest that he always promoted an environment of pluralism and advocated for freedom of expression. His dismissal from his postion at Ben Gurion is extremely draconian and I am sincerely sorry this has happened.
13. Strip this ''University'' of its accreditation.
Faruq   (07.05.10)
What a shame that people do not value the truth anymore - I expect that from universities in Sweden or California - NOT from universities in the Jewish State of Israel!
14. sounds like reverse discrimination at BGU
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (07.05.10)
Liberals are quick to yell 'freedom of expresion' when they are saying outlandish statements, but when the situation is reversed, it seems their hypocrisy comes out in a blaring and most obvious manner. Sorry, BGU, you are hypocrites in every one's eyes. If you believe in pluralism, if you believe in honest discussion, if you believe in free speech, you will reverse this perversion of justice and reinstate this teacher. Until then, your academic credentials are in suspect.
15. Ben-Gurion University permits anti-Israel lecturers to spew
George ,   Palm Beach, FL USA   (07.05.10)
anti-Israeli hate, in Israel and abroad, yet when another lecturer expresses his opinion about a social matter and does it on campus he is dismissed. My contribution to Ben-Gurion University are NO LONGER FORTHCOMING!
16. Dr Leavitt
Amnon Levy ,   Los Angeles, Calif   (07.05.10)
I am sad to know that BGU had reacted To Dr Leavitt by firing him. I stop all my support and contribution to the university. In regard to Ynet report I notice that every organization that support Dr Leavitt name right wing. I never read about leberal organization as a left wing group is it strange?! I am not a lefty or righty I am for freedom.
17. t0 #5 yes his rights to earn a living.
ghostq   (07.05.10)
it's not your desition who will work or not, just imagin someone will not employ you because of your extreme political opinions, you will draw the homophobe card, so there is a way to deal with opinions, you may agree with him or not but make unemploy is not one of them, he didn't spread lies, I know a few academic proffesors and they like intelectual debates, sometimes they will say anything just so they can debate on burning subjects, the most of the time don't mean what they say, but intelectually they like the stimulations, your fast judgment and pregedice toward something you don't understand make you racist, where is the fine line between opinion and the preaching, don't you think that people over 18 years old can judge forthemselves what is right or wrong, we r not dealing with children, we r talking about adults, and he raised interesting issue, I personally don't agree with him, but untill now none checked the absent influence of one parent in a child life, it's not exact science so these things r hard to monitor, can you tell me scientifically that a singal parent is not majore factor in upbringing of a child (just ignor you needs and think on the children) you can't can you, again I think he isn't right, but you seems too hot headed to discuss intelectual debate on children upbringing.
18. testing
ziv ,   israel   (07.05.10)
It is nothing but a test of democracy.... which failed by the way (Sent from my mobile)
19. Kol Hakavod for firing that biggot!
Nadav ,   tlv israel   (07.05.10)
he has NO place in an academic institution; preaching hatred is not acceptable.
20. SorryA rie, I am not a TA "Leftie." Your ignorance does you
Rachel ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (07.05.10)
no credit. I am an expert on such matters having spent 20 years working in the US government. I was around when these regulations were implemented. Israel's rules are modeled on the American ones. Your assumption is a classic case of discrimination based on where I live? You need to do better than that. I also work in the security field and your mentioning any reference to the army in your ad hominum attack is quite irrelevant. Sexual harassment is also illegal in the IDF. Before spouting your opinions arm yourself with facts. So you are wrong on two counts today. Care to make it three?
21. I think you meant IDF. And yes,
Rachel ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (07.05.10)
I do think BGU was correct to dismiss Gordon. Making anyone feel unwanted or uncomfortable or creating a hostile environment whether it is in education or the armed forces is illegal.
22. For Tatyana.
Rachel ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (07.05.10)
Yes, Tatyana it is called sexual harassment when someone feels uncomfortable due to comments expressed in a professional setting such as a classroom. If gays in the class were offended and even though I am not gay, his comments offended me, and this it is against the law in Israel. They base Israeli laws on the US model which I am an expert in, having worked in the US government for over 20 years and having been at the Department where these kinds of laws and regulations were implemented. Creating a hostile environment whether in a class or at work is illegal. Your assumption that I am a "left wing" type is incorrect and irrelevant and shows that you yourself discriminate against people you do not know and have no facts to make such statements upon. Never assume facts not in evidence. I do not take harassment laws "frivolously" but Israel often does. Remember former President Katsav and Haim Ramon? They got off rather easily, didn't they? I am glad that a BGU they are starting to get the message.
23. what he said is not "truth" as many here seem to believe
gay israeli   (07.05.10)
many studies (http://cdp.sagepub.com/content/15/5/241.abstract) show that there is no difference between children in gay or straight raised households. His opinion is purely opinion and not based on any "facts". I also know this because I have a child myself and know many gay parents.
24. e/t he said was true
yoni ,   tel aviv   (07.05.10)
just because ppl get offended by the truth and the facts on the ground does not mean that he is at fault. both a mother and father are needed in order to give proper emotional stability to children. they complete the needs of the child in a perfect way the way God made the world. Every sexual urge can be controlled and there is nothing wrong with saying that a man is attracted sexually to every woman but overcomes his urges. anyone who takes offense in this is either lying to himself or being naive and ignorant.
25. Dr. Leavitt should be reinstated.
Rich ,   Toronto, Canada   (07.05.10)
The Torah clearly speaks out against Gays, so I guess Hashem is also anti-gay. Dr. Leavitt did not attack anyone personally and was voicing his opinion, which he should be intitled to at a University free thinkers. If a Jew has no free speech in Israel, then it's time to leave.
26. #2 Get a life
Stan ,   Australia   (07.05.10)
Rachel please do go and get yourself a life. To call what Dr Leavitt reportedly said in a classroom discussion presumably about the subject of bioethics and sexuality (ie. he is attracted to women but can control his urges) sexual harassment is sheer nonsense. It shows how far down the toilet idiotic political correctness has flushed freedom of expression. As for the remark about even homosexual urges can be controlled, well gosh pardon the poor professor for offering an opinion on the power of the human psyche!!! I'm glad I didn't take up teaching with idiots like these students and university administrators now pervading tertiary educational institutions.
27. Shame on BGU
Michel   (07.05.10)
As a gay I condemn this professor attitude. But whz does the BGU never condemns all the Leftists anti=sionists professors..
28. academic freedom
Michael ,   Haifa   (07.05.10)
However obnoxious this man and his ideas may be, the principle of academic freedom, within the bounds of the Law, is absolute and untouchable.
29. Free speech only for the left
Daniel   (07.05.10)
30. Rachel # 20 reply to Arie
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (07.05.10)
Just answer his question. I don't think you can because he is right . So, you spent 20 years wasting the tax payers money. Is that supposed to impress us? If these poor offended people can't take the heat they need to get out of the kitchen so to speak. If they can't stand on their own two feet and debate / disagree with the professor then they are in the wrong class. They should be in kindergarden. Political correctness is ruining this country and we have people like you to thank for it.
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