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Representative Rod Jennet says students are concerned

April 22, 2003
By: Nishi Gupta
State Capital Bureau

A Missouri Representative says an MU college professor who offered students extra credit for showing up to a protest abused her authority.

Nishi Gupta has the story.

House Speaker Pro Tem, Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, says he was approached by students who were concerned about voicing their conservative views in classes with leftist professors. The students said one recent example was when guest speaker, David Horowitz, came to the University of Missouri campus. According to the students, Professor Miriam Golomb offered to give points to students who protested him. Jetton says this is a violation of academic integrity.

Actuality: JETT1.wav
RunTime: 13
OutCue: "particular view."
Contents: " To be presented with different sides of an argument or an issue- I don't have a problem with that. What I have a problem with is from what I could pick up from the students is that they were kind of being pointed towards specifically supporting one particular views."

Professor Miriam Golomb says her assignment instructions were misunderstood. She says the extra credit would be given to anyone who attended the Horowitz lecture- regardless of whether they supported or opposed him.

Representative Jetton says he has to make sure the incident did occur and will then act accordingly.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.

A group of MU students are approaching a state representative saying they need help maintaining their conservative views in what they say are classrooms with liberal professors.

Nishi Gupta reports.

House Speaker Pro Tem, Rod Jetton of Southeast Missouri, says several students told him they don't feel professors are respecting their political views. Jetton says the students gave one example in particular: that MU Professor Miriam Golomb offered to give extra credit to students who protested a lecture given by conservative author David Horowitz. Jetton says the students are concerned and feel that they are discouraged from expressing non-liberal opinions.

Actuality:RJET2.wav
RunTime: 12
OutCue: "crossing the line."
Contents: "To be put in a position where you, if you did certain things or had certain views you totally would get slammed on your grade or if you got extra credit for doing things you totally disagreed with, you know, I think that's crossing the line."

But, Professor Golomb says her extra credit assignment was not to protest Horowitz's speech, but rather to attend it. She says whether the students agreed or disagreed with his political views, wasn't an issue.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.

An MU professor who has been accused of offering extra credit to students who protested a guest lecturer speaks out.

Nishi Gupta has the story.

Miriam Golomb, an assistant professor of Biology at MU, says she was reluctant to give students points for attending a speech given by David Horowitz. Golomb says she gave in to the idea after students who supported him pressed her on the issue. She says she admits she doesn't agree with the speaker's views, but her students wouldn't be praised for protesting him, or punished for supporting him. Now, Golomb says she has to stick up for herself.

Actuality:MGOL1.wav
RunTime: 14
OutCue: "I did not do."
Contents: "I have no trouble in defending my own actions. It is infuriating to have to defend myself against... when I'm being charged for something I did not do."

After students complained, House Speaker Pro Tem, Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, says he's going to look into the incident. As for Golomb, she says because of this misunderstanding, she won't be giving extra credit anymore.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.

An MU Professor is defending herself against accusations of praising students for protesting a guest lecturer.

Nishi Gupta explains.

When Miriam Golomb's students asked her if they could get extra credit for attending a speech by David Horowitz, she says she hesitated. Golomb admits her conscience wouldn't allow her to recommend attendance, given her perceptions of Horowitz's stance on racial issues. But, she says students who supported Horowitz asked her until she gave in. She says the extra credit was for any student who attended the lecture- whether or not they agreed with him. Golomb says the accusations that she was promoting a political view by using grades as an incentive are false, but she isn't worried.

Actuality:MGOL2.wav
RunTime: 9
OutCue: "who I am."
Contents: "It's not going to scare me. I am used to speaking to my mind and that's an important part of who I am."

House Speaker Pro Tem, Rod Jetton of Southeast Missouri, says several students asked him to look into the incident. Jetton says he will look at all sides and approach it as fairly as he can.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.

An MU Professor is defending herself against accusations of praising students for protesting a guest lecturer.

Nishi Gupta explains.

When Miriam Golomb's students asked her if they could get extra credit for attending a speech by David Horowitz, she says she hesitated. Golomb admits her conscience wouldn't allow her to recommend attendance, given her perceptions of Horowitz's stance on racial issues. But, she says students who supported Horowitz asked her until she gave in. She says the extra credit was for any student who attended the lecture- whether or not they agreed with him. Golomb says the accusations that she was promoting a political view by using grades as an incentive are false, but she isn't worried.

Actuality:MGOL2.wav
RunTime: 9
OutCue: "who I am."
Contents: "It's not going to scare me. I am used to speaking to my mind and that's an important part of who I am."

House Speaker Pro Tem, Rod Jetton of Southeast Missouri, says several students asked him to look into the incident. Jetton says he will look at all sides and approach it as fairly as he can.

From Jefferson City, Nishi Gupta, KMOX News.