2008 Woodie Awards
In support of Professor Woodward
Issue date: 10/6/06 Section: Commentary
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The recent attacks on William Woodward in the pages of New Hampshire's conservative newspapers should not be taken seriously. As a professor of psychology, Woodward cannot help but talk about 9/11 in class. The 9/11 attacks left a deep scar on the psyche of many Americans. To understand America's mental health, students of psychology must be exposed to every perspective on the tragedy if they are to provide future patients with effective treatment.
A Scripps public opinion poll from this August stated the following: "Thirty-six percent of respondents overall said it is 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' that federal officials either participated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon or took no action to stop them 'because they wanted the United States to go to war in the Middle East'" (http://newspolls.org/story.php?story_id=55).
Over a third of Americans surveyed believed that the U.S. government played some role in the 9/11 attacks. That is a fact of great import to every student who wishes to understand the society they live in.
I do not fear professors who speak about their own opinions in class, so long as they provide an opportunity for students to disagree with them. I do fear any conservative groups that want to stifle academic freedom and healthy debate simply to avoid criticism. Anyone wishing to join a petition supporting Woodward, please e-mail me at: dwa@unh.edu
David W. Anderson
Graduate Student
A Scripps public opinion poll from this August stated the following: "Thirty-six percent of respondents overall said it is 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' that federal officials either participated in the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon or took no action to stop them 'because they wanted the United States to go to war in the Middle East'" (http://newspolls.org/story.php?story_id=55).
Over a third of Americans surveyed believed that the U.S. government played some role in the 9/11 attacks. That is a fact of great import to every student who wishes to understand the society they live in.
I do not fear professors who speak about their own opinions in class, so long as they provide an opportunity for students to disagree with them. I do fear any conservative groups that want to stifle academic freedom and healthy debate simply to avoid criticism. Anyone wishing to join a petition supporting Woodward, please e-mail me at: dwa@unh.edu
David W. Anderson
Graduate Student
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