Sep 18, 2008 5:45 am US/Pacific
Colo. Professor Investigated For Palin Assignment
DENVER, Colo. (CBS) ―
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Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin speaks during the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, May 28, 2007.
Michael Conti/AFP/Getty Images
Metro State College in Colorado is investigating a professor who asked students to write an essay critical of Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin. One student said the instructor singled out Republican students in the class and allowed others to ridicule them.
"I was shocked, I was holy cow, this is just an open door for him to discuss politics with us," said Jana Barber, a student in the class.
Barber shared the first class assignment with CBS Station KCNC-TV. Instructor Andrew Hallam asked students to write an essay to contradict what he called the 'fairy tale image of Palin' presented at the Republican National Convention.
"What the faculty's responsibility is to provide opportunity for critical thinking and civic engagement so bringing something of relevancy into the classroom was the faculty's goal," said Cathy Lucas, spokeswoman for Metro State. "Should he have broadened it and included all the political figures, yes."
Metro State officials are investigating claims of bias, harassment and bullying.
Hallam declined an interview with CBS Station KCNC-TV. He has revised the assignment.
Students may now write about any of the candidates.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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