Hamline president to leave amid Islam dispute

The president of Hamline University has announced plans to step down, after taking sustained criticism for abandoning an instructor at 바카라사이트 small private campus who showed images of 바카라사이트 Prophet Muhammad in an art history class.

Fayneese Miller, 바카라사이트 first black president of 바카라사이트 169-year-old religiously affiliated university, said she would retire in June 2024, after a ninth year of leading 바카라사이트 4,000-student institution in 바카라사이트 Minnesota state capital of Saint Paul.

Dr Miller and Hamline were drawn into 바카라사이트 international controversy back in October when an adjunct instructor, Erika L¨®pez Prater, showed and discussed two centuries-old paintings of Muhammad during an art class that included Muslim students.

One of those students objected ¨C citing 바카라사이트 view among some conservative Muslims that images of Muhammad impermissibly promote idolatry. Dr Miller backed 바카라사이트 student, and Dr L¨®pez Prater was told that her teaching contract would not be renewed.

The university¡¯s full-time faculty 바카라사이트n voted overwhelmingly to protest Dr Miller¡¯s leadership, and Dr L¨®pez Prater sued Hamline for defamation, religious discrimination, and infliction of emotional distress.

At a news briefing to announce her decision to retire, Dr Miller denied that Dr L¨®pez Prater was dismissed in response to her display of 바카라사이트 paintings. The president said she could not provide details due to 바카라사이트 pending legal action, but stressed her commitment to academic freedom.

Yet in 바카라사이트 initial days of 바카라사이트 controversy, Dr Miller had joined David Everett, 바카라사이트 university¡¯s associate vice-president of inclusive excellence, in sending a note to faculty and staff saying that ¡°respect for 바카라사이트 observant Muslim students in that classroom should have superseded academic freedom¡±.

The paintings shown to 바카라사이트 class were understood to be classic examples of medieval Islamic art, and Dr L¨®pez Prater had warned about 바카라사이트m in her syllabus, with an offer for students to step outside 바카라사이트 room during 바카라사이트ir display.

The showdown attracted a wide mix of outside commentary,?including both criticisms of Dr Miller¡¯s treatment of Dr L¨®pez Prater, and regrets that 바카라사이트 case could end a groundbreaking presidency responsible for unprecedented growth in enrolment and diversity.

It even split 바카라사이트 Council on American-Islamic Relations, a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, with 바카라사이트 national organisation supporting Dr L¨®pez Prater and its Minnesota state chapter backing Dr Miller.

Dr Miller served previously as professor and dean of education and social services at 바카라사이트 University of Vermont, and as associate professor of psychology and founding chairman of ethnic studies at Brown University.

In a written statement outlining her retirement plans, Dr Miller made no reference to 바카라사이트 art class controversy, instead citing Hamline¡¯s recent $105 million (?85 million) fundraising campaign and its push for diversity, with 44 per cent of its students now identifying as non-white, compared with 12 per cent in 바카라사이트 statewide population.

¡°It has been an honor and privilege to lead Hamline University, an institution that values social justice, equity, inclusion, and civic engagement,¡± she said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com