Deseret News reports that BYU has placed ‘9/11 truth’ professor on paid leave.

Brigham Young University officials will be reviewing his involvement in the so-called “9/11 truth movement”. This semester, Jones was to teach two classes, including Physics 121: Principles of Physics 1.[1], which will now be taught by other instructors.

BYU issued a statement:

“BYU has repeatedly said that it does not endorse assertions made by individual faculty,” the statement said. “We are, however, concerned about the increasingly speculative and accusatory nature of these statements by Dr. Jones…BYU remains concerned that Dr. Jones’ work on this topic has not been published in appropriate scientific venues…It is a concern when faculty bring the university name into their own personal matters of concern”

The article goes on to say:

“Last fall, BYU faculty posted statements on the university Web site that questioned whether Jones subjected the paper to rigorous academic peer review before he posted it at physics.byu.edu. Jones removed the paper from BYU’s Web site Thursday at the university’s request.”

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“?