“There are Muslim students on campus who are apprehensive. [They have] fears that other professors at the university have this type of animosity toward Muslim students,” Walid says.
“The university needs to take appropriate action in this case to demonstrate through its actions that anti-Muslim bigotry will not be tolerated on campus. At the end of the day, we want a more harmonious and healthy learning environment for all the students at Michigan State University.”
University officials say Wichman’s e-mail is protected by freedom of speech laws and that there was little they could do. University spokesman Terry Denbow told the Detroit Free Press that Wichman was warned further comments like those contained in the e-mail “could constitute the creation of a hostile environment” and trigger a complain under the university’s anti-discrimination policy.
“I regret that they have made this private communication a public matter. It has no bearing on my profession and is not connected to my work or professional pursuits, and is a private matter,” Wichman reportedly wrote in an e-mail to the Detroit Free Press.
— Toni Coleman
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