Hamline University has reversed its condemnation of an art history professor after she was blasted in the press and in public, and now admits it has only ever called her “Islamophobic” to placate its Muslim students.
In a statement last night, released two hours after Prater’s lawyers announced they had filed a defamation lawsuit against the school for making it a “pariah,” top leadership said they had theirs Dealing with the scandal “checked”.
“In the interest of hearing from and supporting our Muslim students, language has been used that does not reflect our attitude towards academic freedom.
“Based on everything we have learned, we have concluded that our use of the term ‘Islamophobic’ was therefore flawed.
“Like all organizations, we sometimes make mistakes,” said the statement from Board of Trustees Chair Ellen Watters and School President Fayneese Miller.
Professor Erika Lopez Prater was fired from her post at Hamline University in October after showing the picture to students amid a discussion on Islamic art. Now she’s suing the school, claiming it made it a “pariah” by labeling it Islamophobic
Aram Wedatalla complained to the school, claiming she was “taken by surprise” by the picture of the Prophet Mohammed, despite Professor Prater’s warnings on several occasions that she intended to show it. It was an online course that gave students the option to turn off their screens or look away
In October, Associate Professor Erika López Prater showed an online course a picture of the Prophet Mohammed as part of an art history class.
She warned the students who were virtually watching what she was up to, giving them ample warning to look away from the image if they were inclined to do so. In some – but not all – factions of Islam, contemplating the image of the Prophet is forbidden.
After class, a student who is also the president of the university’s Muslim association complained.
Prater, who had been hired for the first time that semester and was scheduled to return for the spring semester, was shown the door.
The university, which bowed to the demands of the Muslim association, called the incident “Islamophobic”.
All the images I used were very respectful, they should be educational and also relate to their original historical context
It sparked an outcry among fellow Muslims and professors across the country, who said the school had stifled academic freedom.
A Muslim professor accused the school of promoting an “extreme” Islamist perspective that few people hold.
The school initially chimed in, saying it wanted to protect its Muslim students and make them feel heard.
On January 14, Professor Prater broke her silence in a discussion with Muslim scholars.
“Having created Islamic art, I know that there are many practices in Islam, I know that historically there have been different attitudes to how the divine should be represented, but I know that contradiction is common in many religions is – it is not specific to Islam.
“In my syllabus I noted that I would show both representative and non-representative sacred figures such as Prophet Muhammad and Jesus Christ and Buddha.
“During my classes, I pointed out to my students that I was about to show an image of Prophet Muhammad, I explained my reasons for doing so, but also to demonstrate the rich diversity in the history of Islam.
“Of course, in an art history class, images are the primary source documents that we use as evidence to learn about different cultures, ways of thinking and attitudes.
“I spent a few minutes explaining it to the students before showing the pictures. I told my students that if they don’t feel comfortable visually, they can do whatever makes most sense to them.
“I’ve tried to empower them to leave the video portion of the online classroom or to do whatever makes most sense to them.
In a statement last night, Hamline said it was a “misstep” to label the lesson Islamophobic. It came two hours after the professor and her lawyers filed a lawsuit
“Like all organizations, we sometimes make mistakes,” read the statement from Board of Trustees Chair Ellen Watters and School President Fayneese Miller (pictured) released last night
The professor found widespread support, with thousands signing a petition for her reinstatement
“I’m not a mind reader. My discussion in my class was fact based and explained the beginnings of Islam itself.
“All the images I used were very respectful, they should be educational and also relate to their original historical context.”
Professor Prater added that the student said her warnings “didn’t matter.”
“She had some pretty strong feelings that she expressed to me. But one of them, which perhaps gets to the heart of the matter, was that she thought the warnings I had given the class didn’t even matter because she believed that images of Prophet Muhammad should never be shown in full .
“Even if they are pedagogically relevant original documents from history.”
Now Hamline says it will host “two big talks”.
“The focus will be on academic freedom and student care. The other will focus on academic freedom and religion,” the statement said.
Prater’s lawyers have not yet commented on the statement.
In her lawsuit, Prater’s attorneys say she shared her curriculum with her supervisors and “no one” raised any concerns.
“Students watching the online lessons were fully warned about the paintings.
“Students viewing the online course also had ample opportunity to turn away from their computer screens, turn their screens away from themselves, turn off their screens, or even leave their rooms before the paintings were shown.
Her lawyer criticized the university for making her an “outcast” following student complaints.
Old Main Building of Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota