Tuesday proved to be a very sad day for UNM, with several students and community leaders calling for the resignation of Professor Richard Berthold and the Faculty Senate and administration distancing themselves from the matter.
No one can dispute that Berthold's comment, "Anyone who blows up the Pentagon has my vote," on Sept. 11 was reprehensible, but the idea that he would be fired for it is equally reprehensible.
Berthold has issued a tearful apology to the entire state but that doesn't matter because he has upset people in positions of power.
State Rep. William Fuller has said that he has no problem with Berthold's right to speak but took issue with it taking place in a classroom. I guess that means all University employees may no longer share their opinions in the workplace. I am likely prime for suspension for sharing my thoughts on this matter.
The obvious question that follows is, if you choose to fire Berthold, where do you draw the line when regulating free speech?
Fuller said his line was sedition, while State Rep. Marsha Adkin said she weighed it as whether it was truthful and good for the family. As far as sedition goes, you have to prove intent to harm the government, which is laughable in Berthold's case because he is falling over himself to apologize. I won't touch Adkin's measuring stick because I don't expect that she can impose her subjective viewpoints on this campus.
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President Gordon understandably has to proceed with caution because he serves a variety of interests and this is a state-funded institution. However, Gordon's statement Tuesday that the University is vigorously pursuing the matter through its internal disciplinary procedures seems to foreshadow stringent action against Berthold. I would only hope that a reprimand is the most that comes of this investigation, which is starting to sound like a witch hunt.
Then you have the president of Faculty Senate explaining that Berthold's views do not reflect those of UNM faculty, condemning his comments and supporting whatever action Gordon takes.
This is the same group that has engaged in endless discussions on academic freedom, yet is unwilling to accept an apology from Berthold, leaving one to question how much more hypocritical the Faculty Senate can get.
I strongly disagree with Berthold's comments, but that doesn't really matter. All that does matter is that we defend his right to speak or we may be the next to be silenced.
Iliana Lim¢n
Editor in chief
