For many professors, a story out of New York may seem like an academic sequel to the 1982 horror film “Don’t Go To Sleep.” Students are seeking the termination of Marymount Manhattan Theater Arts Associate Professor Patricia Simon after she appeared to briefly fall asleep during an anti-racist meeting held on Zoom. Simon denies the allegations but Marymount Manhattan student Caitlin Gagnon started a petition which features this picture and also accuses her of “ignoring … racist and sizeist actions and words of the vocal coaches under her jurisdiction.” The petition has roughly 2000 signatories. It is an ironic twist on the woke movement where literally not being awake is now cause to be terminated.Professor Simon insists that the picture was a false image due to her bifocals and how she changed her angle to rest her eyes:
“I was not asleep as is implied at any point during the meeting,” she said, adding, “the photo used was taken without permission when I was looking down or briefly resting my Zoom weary eyes with my head tilted back which I must do in order to see my computer screen through my trifocal progressive lenses. I listened with my ears and heart the entire meeting.”
It is certainly true to have such false light images. We previously discussed how President Barack Obama was unfairly accused of inappropriate conduct through such false light publications. Obama was accused of checking out a female staffer with the use of a single photo. However, the full record showed that Obama was moving his head to speak with another world leader at a photo op and that frame just caught him at a misleading angle as the staffer walked by.
However, even if true, why is a professor dozing off in a meeting now a matter for termination? Faculty meetings are a well-known cure for insomnia even when you care deeply about the subject. I have seen colleagues virtually cause self-concussions by sleep-induced head bobbing. Even Vice Presidents and United States senators have been accused of falling asleep in the middle of a meeting in the Oval Office. A senator appeared to fall asleep during the presidential impeachment. Indeed, during a judicial impeachment, I was the lead counsel arguing on the Senate floor. My family came to the floor to watch my closing argument and my youngest, Madie, fell asleep in my wife’s arms. A Capitol Police officer came over to say that “there is no sleeping on the Senate floor,” even an infant. My wife looked over at a Senator who had his feet up on a desk, head back with his mouth open, and snoring so loud you could barely hear my closing. The officer contemplated the scene for a second and responded “YOU can’t sleep on the Senate floor.”
The point is that Professor Simon denies the allegation but, even if true, the first response of these students is to seek yet another termination of a professor. It is an example of why many academics feel that they are living in an increasingly intolerant and hostile environment. Some faculty are afraid to speak on contemporary issues or even defend colleagues (or free speech) due to the ubiquitous petitions to fire faculty deemed insufficiently supported of Black Lives Matter or the protests. Simon is not being accused of racist statements but a failure to be sufficiently active in fighting racism. As is often the case, the petition lacks specific incidents that are now deemed unnecessary in this environment:
“This action has only capitalized on a pattern of negligence and disrespect that Patricia Simon has exhibited over and over again in her time as an Associate Professor, and Coordinator of the BFA Musical Theater Program. Professor Simon has a history of ignoring instances of racism in the form of racial profiling within the program, and enabling the racist and sizeist actions and words of the vocal coaches under her jurisdiction.”
She is accused of being “known to use her power to intimidate and bully the students in her program who have made efforts to advocate for themselves or for their fellow peers.” That is unrelated to the alleged dozing depravity caught on Zoom and virtually impossible to refute even the absence of any specific incident. Students later added that she is “fatphobic”and rejected her claim that “I listened with my ears and heart the entire meeting.”
I obviously come to this with the bias of a faculty member who is disturbed by what I see has the loss of tolerance and free speech on our campus. We have been discussing these stories of petitions for the terminations of faculty throughout the country. I can understand why students are upset at the image of what they view as a professor falling asleep at meeting dealing with racism. However, this comes off like a rule that you cannot be woke unless you are literally awake. It belittles rather than reenforces the importance of the underlying movement to bring attention to the problems of racism and reforms.
Academics cannot function in an environment where even dozing off in a meeting is evidence of racism. We should all engage in this national debate while retaining a modicum of fairness and toleration. This includes not assuming that a statement is motivated by racism or an image (like this one) reflects some deep-seated hostility to reforms. This could be a case of sleep deprivation or a case of sleep depravation (or not, as claimed, sleep at all). It seems like the only response for many is compliance or termination to demands. I recently reported good news that one such controversy at Creighton did not result in a demand for termination after a professor called supporting police evidence of white supremacy. Conservative students did not start with a petition for his termination. Yet, it is not clear if the university and other students would have taken such an approach if the content of his criticism was directed at protesters rather than police.
There is an alternative for these students then a petition for termination. You can ask for an apology or explanation. On these other issues, you can raise specific complaints against the professor with the Administration. These avenues allow for due process for all parties.
I don’t see where Trump said what the title of this opinion piece claims. Typical NPR “reporting.”
The professor needs to start a petition to remove whomever orchestrated the meeting, that put her to sleep. Is wasting time an offense worthy of a petition?
Isaac, for once I agree with you.
Seth,
Another comment that has nothing to do with the article by Prof. Turley. You continue to play with the rest of us as if we cannot pay attention to the article. You are nothing but a political hack, who hates Trump, and will continue to spew your hatred every chance you get.
You may want to add that President Trump is supporting the Constitution and the 1st Amendment freedom of speech, not a particular flag.
Justice, Trump himself calls the Confederate flag a ‘free speech’ issue. Shouldn’t it be discussed on a ‘free speech thread?
Mr. Shill: Trump loves Confederate flag.
Truth: Trump defends every citizen’s free speech.
Mr. Shill: Changes the subject to his opinion regarding the appropriate use of threads.
Truth: Mr. Shill’s nonsense is revealed, Seth Warner loses and Paint Chips attempts evasion by way of a ruse.
Exactly. The Democrat Left is looking like nincompoops in the latest stories and Seth is doing his best to distract from all the calumny being heaped on Democrats and Leftists. He is positively in a frenzy! That means the flak is hitting them pretty hard.
Squeeky Fromm
Girl Reporter
Squeaky, what on earth are you talking about??? The news right now is overflowing with virus-related stories that have grave consequences for this country. And you’re pretending our only worry is political correctness from Bernie Bros.
“The news right now is overflowing with virus-related stories that have grave consequences for this country.”
Here’s the CDC Covid US deaths graph again, Seth:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/lrc-cdn/assets/2020/07/1232.png
The exact opposite of “grave consequences”.
You know nothing worth knowing, because you’re an indoctrinated Lemming.
Rhodes, as Seth has correctly pointed out, there are confirmed cases of permanent damage to lungs, heart, and the brain from covid-19. Anyone young or old who wants to disregard that, along with potential exposure to their older relatives is a complete certified idiot, like mespo.
The other “grave consequence to the country” which Seth suggest is that our economy is going to head down again, needlessly because the certified idiot in the WH put his personal ambitions and pure stupidity ahead of the nation. He is the leader of the movement to bludgeon our economy into a deeper recession.
I live in a blue small city surrounded by red. The numbers of those wearing masks has exploded with these surges of cases, thus proving the observation of pollsters a couple of months ago: People primarily react to their own fears, not rules put in place by government, and even in red country, people are scared s…less again, as they should be. This will cost jobs and cause further economic damage.
PS Death is a lagging indicator.
Another Free Speech Issue:
White House Continues Attacks On Dr Fauci
The White House on Wednesday disavowed an overt attack on the government’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, from one of President Trump’s senior advisers on trade and China, Peter Navarro.
Navarro wrote an op-ed for USA Today on Tuesday in which he argued that Fauci “has been wrong about everything I have interacted with him on” — another salvo in a series of pointed remarks against the immunologist.
The White House has struggled to explain why top aides appear to be at open war with a widely respected scientist whom an overwhelming majority of Americans say they trust more on the coronavirus than the president, or almost anyone else.
Edited from: “White House Disavows Attack On Fauci By Trump Trade Adviser”
Today’s NPR
What does this comment have to do with the article? When you comment Seth, at least stick to the subject.
Justice, should White House advisers be ‘free’ to denounce an expert from their own administration??
Yes.
Are you under the impression that’s against the law?
Regarding Above:
White House Steps Up Attacks On Dr Fauci..
While Oklahoma”s Republican Governor Tests Positive To Virus
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) said Wednesday that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, and he urged residents to get tested if they aren’t feeling well.
“I feel fine. I felt a little bit achy yesterday. I didn’t have a fever,” he said, adding he periodically gets tested and is isolating himself from his family. “So, I just want to be transparent with Oklahomans.”
Stitt said he is working from home until it is safe for him to do otherwise.
Stitt said he does not attribute his positive result to his attendance at President Trump’s campaign rally in Tulsa last month, and Lance Frye, interim health commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Health, agreed. Photographs from the event show the governor without a mask.
Edited from: “Oklahoma’s Governor Tests Positive To Virus”
Today’s Washington Post
Fauci is a known and proven liar, Seth.
And you’re a plagiarist who doesn’t provide links to articles that you didn’t write.
BTW, since the Governor started reopening Georgia, deaths from Covid are down by 48%.
But you won’t hear that on NPR.
Rhodes, you’re ridiculous! The virus is up in 41 states as of today.
Seth, you are a very slow learner.
Here is what I wrote:
“since the Governor started reopening Georgia, deaths from Covid are down by 48%”
Keyword: “deaths”
Which is all that matters.
Latest U of Washington death prediction model (the model used by the trump administration in the spring) …
225 thousand dead by Nov. 1.
REGARDING ABOVE:
This is the ‘Free Speech’ issue that explains why Professor Turley can’t lay off the Left”. Trump is actively defending the Confederate flag while two thirds of the country thinks Trump has made racial tensions worse.
REGARDING ABOVE:
Why, in the name of God, is a native New Yorker like Donald Trump defending the Confederate flag?? It sounds so ludicrous one can hardly believe it.
Could it be that Trump’s base of fervent anti-abortion folks is primarily southern Whites?? Yeah, they’re the group Blacks want to join when they ‘Walkaway’ from the ‘Democratic plantation’. ..Not..!!
“I was not asleep as is implied at any point during the meeting,” she said, adding, “the photo used was taken without permission when I was looking down or briefly resting my Zoom weary eyes with my head tilted back which I must do in order to see my computer screen through my trifocal progressive lenses. I listened with my ears and heart the entire meeting.”
– Associate Professor Patricia Simon
_____________________________
After a vigorous, fraudulent and preposterous denial, the dutiful comrade reaffirmed her party allegiance and took the party pledge:
“I listened with my ears and heart the entire meeting.”
In their psychotic zeal to obtain power for power’s sake, the radical, activist and anarchistic communists are eating their own.
The inmates have taken over the asylum…
because Americans have allowed them to.
Adults need to stop letting the tantrums of unruly children dictate their actions. You’ve screwed up this generation, but that doesn’t mean you let them destroy everything. The only power they have is the power you loan them. So knock it off. Take the power tools away and put them out of reach..
And adults need to hold adults accountable. Why do we keep letting these fools destroy generation after generation?
Where’s the petition to fire the lot of them?
The professor is probably just as radical as the folks who want her fired. Frankenstein’s monster strikes again? Why not solve half of America’s problem and fire ALL professors!? LOL! Anyway…WTF is a “sizeist”!? LOL!
How many of those students slept through one of her lectures?
Jonathan Turley: ;A senator appeared to fall asleep during the presidential impeachment. Indeed, during a judicial impeachment, I was the lead counsel arguing on the Senate floor. My family came to the floor to watch my closing argument and my youngest, Madie, fell asleep in my wife’s arms. A Capitol Police officer came over to say that “there is no sleeping on the Senate floor,” even an infant. My wife looked over at a Senator who had his feet up on a desk, head back with his mouth open, and snoring so loud you could barely hear my closing. The officer contemplated the scene for a second and responded “YOU can’t sleep on the Senate floor.”’
SMH
Great story! 🙂
I feel no pity for her.
When you start the chipper shredder and put it into the hands of bloody-minded children, don’t be surprised when you get thrown in. You’ll ALL go into the chipper shredder before it’s done. From time to time the Tree of Liberty requires the bloody mulch of tyrants.
em– that sounds like Freddie Kruger paraphrasing Thomas Jefferson.
Thomas Jefferson wrote his remarks on the proper dressing of the Tree of Liberty when bloody suppression of free speech was fresh in his memory. He had no way of knowing that it would take 200 years before some of us would go to the streets to impose their will on the rest of us with a ferocity unmatched by George III.
The inmates have escaped and are attempting to browbeat the public into letting them have control – of EVERYTHING! By the way, a Rasmussen poll says cancelling is opposed by 3 to 1.
polls dont get the job done
the cancel culture needs its own ticket punched. cancelled. they need to “go away” literally, not figuratively
What if she actually did fall asleep because she was exhausted or ill? What’s next? Petitioning to fire professors who blink? Or don’t nod or applaud at the right points?
Meanwhile: Today’s NYTs
“WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has ordered hospitals to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and send all Covid-19 patient information to a central database in Washington beginning on Wednesday. The move has alarmed health experts who fear the data will be politicized or withheld from the public.
The new instructions were posted recently in a little-noticed document on the Department of Health and Human Services website. From now on, the department — not the C.D.C. — will collect daily reports about the patients that each hospital is treating, the number of available beds and ventilators, and other information vital to tracking the pandemic.
Officials say the change will streamline data gathering and assist the White House coronavirus task force in allocating scarce supplies like personal protective gear and remdesivir, the first drug shown to be effective against the virus. But the Health and Human Services database that will receive new information is not open to the public, which could affect the work of scores of researchers, modelers and health officials who rely on C.D.C. data to make projections and crucial decisions.
“Historically, C.D.C. has been the place where public health data has been sent, and this raises questions about not just access for researchers but access for reporters, access for the public to try to better understand what is happening with the outbreak,” said Jen Kates, the director of global health and H.I.V. policy with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation….”
Because of course. CV 19 will cease to exist by next Tuesday. OMG.
“OMG”?!
Are you a Valley Girl, Bugs?
Rhodes: the flagrant idiocy of the trump administration turns us all into Valley Girls.
BTB, have you ever bothered to actually go to the CDC website and read its criteria for reporting and recording Covid deaths?
It’s a joke.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/cases-updates/about-us-cases-deaths.html
*A confirmed case or death is defined by meeting confirmatory laboratory evidence for COVID-19.
* A probable case or death is defined by one of the following:
* Meeting clinical criteria AND epidemiologic evidence with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19
*Meeting presumptive laboratory evidence AND either clinical criteria OR epidemiologic evidence
* Meeting vital records criteria with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID19
So the CDC actually admits that it is counting Covid deaths with no confirmation that the deceased ever had the virus.
And you’re surprised that Trump “has ordered hospitals to bypass the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and send all Covid-19 patient information to a central database in Washington”?!
Rhodes:
Those are listed as “probable deaths” as opposed to “confirmed deaths”, as your own quote demonstrates.
What branch of the government is the CDC in? Who is the head of that?
As with oversight on the Covid Relief bill spending, no one trusts Trump who is always seeking to hide whatever he may perceive as personally damaging, from his tax returns to awards of federal funds to foreign governments, to applicants for relief from the virus crisis, to health data. Maybe you didn’t hear about the fired IGs.
In 2019 I started to think it was me being in my late 50s that made the “woke” movement incomprehensible to me. One positive thing about 2020 is that I learned it’s not me, it’s them.
They could, oh, I don’t know, look at something other than their bottom line and stop capitulating to the little sh!ts. Heaven forbid! Lawsuits could also be helpful.
“If you like your health insurance, you can keep your health insurance” – Barack Hussein Obama (c. 2009)
I’m wondering what would happen if someone had a fluffer doodle during one of these meetings… 😜
Getting ridiculous already, everyday it’s something else that’s even more insane…Just look what’s going on at the New York Times. Anybody who doubts that liberalism is not a mental disorder is just flat-out lying to themselves.
What’s happening to The Times is that the Sulzberger scions (who control most of the voting shares) are not protecting their brand. They’ve left an idiot cousin in the publisher’s chair, and he owns this situation. The way to fix things is for the scions to put someone else in charge. Fat chance.
… and the idiot cousin replaced an executive editor who presided over several years of Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalism (Jill Abramson) with the pliable and inoffensive Dean Baquet. However, that they’re restoring the Walter Duranty brand of ideological journalism which later NYT editorial boards may call (as they did Walter Duranty’s denial of the 1932-1933 Ukrainian famine) “some of the worst reporting to appear in this newspaper.”. But such breast-beating is uncharacteristic of the ego-tripping twits which run “The Paper of Record”.
Well, those who can’t tell far left from liberalism, are not exactly the sharpest knives in any drawer.
I can understand why students are upset at the image of what they view as a professor felling asleep at meeting dealing with racism.
The only ‘racisim’ of consequence on college campuses is to be found in the mulligans and indulgences granted the administration’s pets (who are usually the faculty’s pets). That doesn’t do anyone a bloody bit of good in the short, medium, or long term.
Eating their own is the only thing that will end the madness.
No, punching them in the face, both literally and metaphorically, is what will end their madness.
The fight will be physical. It will be one of organized violence. It has always been coming down to this. Time to just admit it now.
It is either going to be a massacre or a civil war. It will be a civil war if we are lucky. If not we will end up liquidated, eventually.
This is not a “debate” or a “contest of ideas.” it is only a contest of POWER.
Do we have any left with which to defend ourselves, any will, any organization, any skills, any resources?
Or are we just as lambs being lead to slaughter.
The late Carleton Gajdusek won a Nobel Prize for showing cannibalism can transmit and intensify madness (the kind endemic to Papua New Guinea called “kuru”).