Political leaders in New Hampshire are calling for University of New Hampshire tenured professor, William Woodward, to be dismissed for presenting his conspiracy theory views on 9/11 in class. Last semester, he discussed 9/11 conspiracy theories in his political psychology class, and wants to teach a class this fall that explores 9/11 “in psychological terms — terms like belief, conspiracy, fear, truth, courage, group dynamics”.

• UNH Professor Faces Criticism for 9-11 Theories - New Hampshire Public Radio (August 29, 2006)
• Professor’s 9/11 theories outrage NH leaders - Union Leader (August 27, 2006)
• The nutty professor: UNH needs an investigation - Union Leader (August 28, 2006)

Citing Academic Freedom, the University of New Hampshire has stood by Woodward, and refuses to fire him. Though with Academic Freedom, comes Academic Responsibility, which dictate that professors “should be careful not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.” (pgph B), “should at all times be accurate”, and “should exercise appropriate restraint“. (pgph C)
AAUP interpretation of Academic Freedom states:

If the administration of a college or university feels that a teacher has not observed the admonitions of paragraph (c) of the section on Academic Freedom and believes that the extramural utterances of the teacher have been such as to raise grave doubts concerning the teacher’s fitness for his or her position, it may proceed to file charges under paragraph 4 of the section on Academic Tenure. In pressing such charges, the administration should remember that teachers are citizens and should be accorded the freedom of citizens. In such cases the administration must assume full responsibility, and the American Association of University Professors and the Association of American Colleges are free to make an investigation.” [1]

“…a faculty member’s expression of opinion as a citizen cannot constitute grounds for dismissal unless it clearly demonstrates the faculty member’s unfitness for his or her position” [1]

The bottom-line: Has Woodward’s political psychology teachings crossed the line beyond “expression of opinion” and is relevant to the course subject? In a course on 9/11 “in psychological terms, would the professor be able to “at all times be accurate”, and exercise appropriate restraint“?

As reported in The Onion, Oliver Stone’s World Trade Center film suggests that a “single plane”, responsible for all four collisions in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, kept circling back and hit all the targets. - New Oliver Stone 9/11 Film Introduces ‘Single Plane’ theory

Scholars for 9/11 Truth membership…

“Barrett’s case has helped boost membership to about 75 academics. They are a tiny minority of the 1 million part- and full-time faculty nationwide, and some have no university affiliation. Most aren’t experts in relevant fields.” - Washington Post/AP (August 6, 2006)

Brent Blanchard at ImplosionWorld.com (industry website) has published a paper that gives their take on the collapse of the World Trade Center towers 1, 2, & 7.

WTC Collapse Study - Brent Blanchard

• link updated 9/6: http://www.implosionworld.com/Article-WTC9-6-06.pdf