Gordon Fulks sends this summary of the situation and asks that it be distributed. I’m happy to oblige. For some background on Dr. Drapela’s skeptical views, this slideshow “Global Warming Cracked Open” might give some insight into OSU’s booting him out. – Anthony
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From Gordon Fulks:
Hello Everyone,
In theory at least Oregon State University (OSU) seems to be a bastion of academic freedom, diversity, and tolerance. A wide range of ideas are openly discussed. The most viable rise to the top and the least viable fade away. But it is all a fairy tale, because OSU operates under a politically correct regimen that dictates what is acceptable to say and what is not. Transgressors who dare to be different are eventually weeded out so that the campus maintains its ideological purity.
OSU is not yet as swift or efficient as the Soviet system when Joseph Stalin was trying to quash dissent among biologists who refused to go along with Trofim Lysenko. If warnings to compromise their integrity were not followed, Stalin simply had biologists shot. That quickly thinned the ranks of all biologists and persuaded the remaining ones to comply with Stalin’s wishes. Of course, it also destroyed Soviet biology, because Lysenko was pedaling nonsense. And Russian biology has never recovered.
We learned over the weekend that chemist Nickolas Drapela, PhD has been summarily fired from his position as a “Senior Instructor” in the Department of Chemistry. The department chairman Richard Carter told him that he was fired but would not provide any reason. Subsequent attempts to extract a reason from the OSU administration have been stonewalled. Drapela appears to have been highly competent and well-liked by his students. Some have even taken up the fight to have him reinstated.
What could possibly have provoked the OSU administration to take precipitous action against one of their academics who has been on their staff for ten years, just bought a house in Corvallis, and has four young children (one with severe medical problems)? Dr. Drapela is an outspoken critic of the theory of Anthropogenic Global Warming, the official religion of the State of Oregon, the Oregon Democratic Party, and Governor John Kitzhaber.
Five years ago, Oregon State Climatologist George Taylor went around quietly saying that he was not a believer. Then Governor Ted Kulongoski and many faculty at OSU including Dr. Jane Lubchenco made life impossible for Taylor, and he retired. (Lubchenco is now head of NOAA in the Obama administration.) Under those currently in charge, OSU climate research has grown to be a huge business, reportedly $90 million per year with no real deliverables beyond solid academic support for climate hysteria. A small army of researchers ponder the effects of Global Warming on all sorts of things from tube worms living along the Oregon Coast to butterflies inland. When the climate refuses to warm (as it has for the last twenty years), they just study ‘warming in reverse!’ Most of us call that “cooling,” but they are very careful not to upset their Obama administration contract monitors with politically incorrect terminology.
Skeptics of Global Warming who oppose the OSU approach and oppose the politicians who make it all possible but do not work for OSU also find themselves attacked. Dr. Art Robinson who is running against Peter DeFazio for an Oregon Congressional seat found three of his children under attack at OSU. All were attempting to obtain advanced degrees in the Nuclear Engineering Department and were threatened with dismissal. Because Robinson fought back, we understand that the OSU administration backed down.
As to the latest victim of political correctness at OSU, Dr. Nickolas Drapela gives us an excellent synopsis of what is going on:
“The fact of the matter is that it is now two weeks since I was fired and no one has had the cajones or the common courtesy to even tell me why. I have spoken with the Dept. Chair (Rich Carter) who fired me, and he refused to tell me why. I spoke to the Dean of Science (Vince Remcho) and he couldn’t tell me why. I spoke to HR who set up a meeting with me, then cancelled it an hour before. Then I went to the Vice President of Academic Affairs (Becky Warner) and she sent me back to Rich Carter, the chemistry chair.
It’s just a sad, sad state of affairs that an institution like OSU would fire a good employee for (ostensibly) no reason and then run around and hide from the person they fired. I had stellar teaching evaluations, I won College of Science awards for teaching, and published textbooks. My class sections were always full and I was well-liked by students (see ratemyprofessors.com). I was doing my job very well. But I guess I didn’t march in step with their philosophies.
There were quite a few student protests over this at OSU (Barometer, Facebook, etc.) but to no avail.
I was given no severance and had no warning this was about to happen. In fact, I was lured into the chair’s office under the guise of a fallacious story before being fired.
As you know, I was probably the most visibly-outspoken critic of the Global Warming doctrine at OSU. I gave several public talks on the topic and did research in the area which I regularly posted on the web. I was also on a few talk radio shows in the area. I think they finally just said, we can’t have this.
Can it be that a university whose motto is “Open minds. Open doors” cannot abide even one faculty member who disagrees with their dogma? I suppose I am too naive, but I’m still reeling from it. Unbelievable.
I should say that they regularly read all my email communications, which is why I am writing from this private email address. That has been going on for quite some time now.
As far as my options at this point, like I said I haven’t even really grasped what has just happened. I don’t know what I’m going to do, or what options I have yet. I’m sure OSU wants their story to be tight and perfectly identical among all administration before coming out with an official reason why I was fired, hence the long wait and refusal to speak to me.
I truly thank you for your concern, and I hope there is some recourse, even just for the sake of exposing what is happening at OSU.”
In a separate e-mail Drapela went on to say:
“Thanks so much for your support and your concern. That’s really nice. My students were all really upset about it. They started an email writing campaign to have me re-hired but I guess no one cares what they think.
I find that the people who want to keep things secret all the time are usually the people that have something to hide. It is certainly ok by me for you to disseminate this story. But I’m sure OSU would be horrified.
I’m not sure how I will support my family at this point. We just bought a house in Corvallis. I have four kids, one of whom has a rare, blood disorder and requires regular trips to Doernbecher’s Children’s Hospital for treatment. Now we will be without health insurance.”
We can only speculate as to how the decision to fire Drapela was made. Unlike the decision to force Taylor out (which came from the governor’s office), this decision was likely internal to OSU with the implicit backing of Governor Kitzhaber and NOAA administrator Lubchenco. I would suspect that Dr. Phil Mote (Director of their Climate Change Research Institute) had a hand in the decision, because he has previously been highly intolerant of those who oppose his ideas and could potentially threaten his business empire.
Please join with me in supporting Nick Drapela. Please join with me in supporting objective science, as well as academic freedom, diversity, and tolerance. The issues here go far beyond just Global Warming and strike at the very heart of who we are as scientists and Americans.
Gordon J. Fulks, PhD (Physics)
Corbett, Oregon USA
P.S. Please circulate this e-mail far and wide. The world needs to know what is going on here.
Hey, da boise and goils upstairs is gettin squeezed too, ya know?
And terminal metabolic outputs follow the local gravity well.
The Sun was once the center of the universe.
Phogiston once was the cause of combustion.
The Moon once was made of Green Cheese.
The nay-sayers are deniers of the orthodox, and so obviously heretics.
And what do we do with heretics???
The truth is subversive.
I live in Oregon and it doesn’t surprise me that Eugene ideology can’t stand the truth when their money supply is from greenies and their ideas of mass taxation is threatened, they will react as in fireing the messanger. Truth may be earth warms when it climbs into galactic alignment and cools when it ascends, so what you see is natural, not man made. So if they can tax you for something natural they make the bank get it?
I’m guessing his “Senior Instructor” contract requires virtually nothing from OSU in terms of showing cause. The agw alarmists are thin skinned,vindictive and unethical.
My e-mail to the department chair
rich.carter@oregonstate.edu
Dr. Carter:
As a physicist, I want to express my disappointment, if not outrage, at OSU’s dismissal of Dr. Drapela for what, apparently, amounts to holding the “wrong” scientific opinion regarding anthropogenic climate change. It is up to us scientists to mount the last line of defense against orthodoxy: While I understand the huge pressure to conform to the political trends (in the form of massive government grants to your university), we must remain scientists first, and political operatives second.
If this is as it appears, it is a black mark on your university, your department, and I’m sorry to say, on your leadership as a scientist.
Amazing how intolerant intellectual types are when they get threatened ! Suppose Drapela was the Director of an opposing institute correctly proving that “climate change” was just a political Obama-charade (which is of course true BTW — that’s why you all had to change the original popular name “global warning”), you and your buddies there at OSU would have screamed — claiming that there was no discourse, no profound opposing discussion. But when the shoe is on the other foot, look how you behave !
No room for critical thinking in the People’s Republic of Eugene. Toe the Party line or pay the consequences.
Was he fired? Or he simply did not have his contract renewed? Non-renewal of educator’s contracts goes on all the time and one must prepare for the possibility. If he was fired, then this is not right!
Wow. Where to start? I don’t know for sure what the circumstances are of the Prof’s dismissal (sorry…non-renewal), but I do have a few thoughts. Here goes:
From Jo Reeves, 6/11/8:24pm: any company or organization should have the right to terminate anyone for any reason. Sorry, but we’re not talking about a private company here. The university gets funding from the Federal gov’t, which makes it a public institution and therefore not at liberty to just make up its own rules in regard to personnel issues. According to your expressed idea, any employer would be able to fire someone just for being Jewish, female, Native American, African American, or any other reason. I seem to remember from my history classes that people fought – and died – for protection against such unfairness. It’s called Civil Rights.
From Chris G, 6/11, 8:37pm: In fact, Michelle Obama’s brother Craig Robinson is the head coach for the Beavers at OSU. SO??
From D.J.Hawkins, 6/12, 10:47am: Yes, the First Amendment is a “compact between the citizens and the Federal Government,” but remember: Federal statute overrides State statute every time, and the Constitution cannot be overridden by any state or local statute or policy. Freedom of speech is guaranteed to every citizen at all times, unless that speech incites danger/harm to others or the citizen voluntarily suspends the right, as in the case of active duty military personnel. Even those who have lost others legal guarantees, such as convicted felons, do not lose the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. Since the university is supported by tax dollars, it is a representative of the Federal Government and therefore cannot impede on an individual’s right to free speech or punish him for the exercise thereof.
From Ophelia, 6/13, 9:21: You may be right in re: to folks jumping to conclusions, but budget cuts don’t seem a viable reason here. The professor’s key/privileges were revoked before the completion of finals. Any change in funding wouldn’t have gone into effect until the end of the academic term, so if there wasn’t something questionable about the situation, they could have waited a week or two until the end of the term. There may be an explanation, but the haste involved in the situation is at least enough to raise eyebrows.
And lastly, from Shooter, 6/14, 7:30am: Indeed, he was such a “tyrant” that the USSR won the Second World War: Check your history, dear. The USSR didn’t win WWII. The victory of the Allied forces over the Axis forces was a joint effort, but if any one country could be credited with bringing an end to the conflict, that country would arguably be the US, not the USSR. It’s possible – maybe even probable – that the USSR could’ve achieved victory without the US’s help, but we’ll never know for sure. What is sure is that neither one person nor one country can be completely credited with winning that war. Oh, and since when does being a “tyrant” preclude a gov’t figure from leading a country to win a war, anyway? Many wars have been fought and won by countries led by tyrants. Winning doesn’t make them any less tyrannical.
Where is the tolerance and mingling of ideas in a free society and among Progressives (so called)? Since OSU has given Dr. Drapela no reason for the firing, why does he not sue the school?
Why are the Occupiers not protesting this?
Funny how 3-4 years ago oregon state faculty put out an official statement that drapela’s views does not reflect the departments stance on the climate change issue and now this. It’s too bad because I remember his adv chem class like it was yesterday. One of only a few classes I actually enjoyed.
Here is a quick email i sent to President Ray this morning. I was too outraged to do nothing. If you wish to do something similar, go to their website (oregonstate.edu) and navigate to the President’s page and click the link. This type of thing really gets me going…..
Dr. Ray,
I have read online that your University has fired a professor named Nicholas Drapela. He has asked to be given a reason for his dismissal. Contrary to common decency and fair dealings, the University has failed to provide him a reason. I find this rather discouraging.
Has the University really refused to provide a reason for the individual dismissal?
Was he, in fact, dismissed because of his out-spoken views on man-made global warming?
How can a university espouse creeds like tolerance and academic freedom, and then dismiss one who is a critic of a philosophy that the University has championed, and then refuse to provide a reason for the firing?
If the allegations are true that Dr. Drapela was dismissed due to his stated beliefs on global warming, then you and those others making that decision should be ashamed and embarrassed for your actions. You have sold your academic soul to one creed and philosophy, and have neglected your true mission. And you bring discredit to the entire global academy. My words could not adequately express my utmost disappointment and anger at this situation.
If this was not the basis of the decision, it’s time you shared with the world the real reason. Your position as the President of a state university should compel you to treat others with more respect, dignity and courtesy.
I realize that until now, I have only heard one side of this story. I realize that I have absolutely no connection or interest in your university. But the information I have been given has made me mad enough to compose this email to you, a stranger on the other side of this great country. I hope you realize that for every one of me, there are probably thousands in Oregon shaking their heads.
Please do what is right. Please show this man and his family some common courtesy and give him a reason for his dismissal. And if the reason for his dismissal is his position on man-made global warming, then do the decent thing and resign your post. Any academic that would do such a thing deserves to be doing something completely unconnected to the academy.
Respectfully,
This is a lot of outrage over something very speculative.