Peter N. Kirstein

Peter N. Kirstein, Ph.D. is professor of history at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois and served as department chair of the Department of History and Political Science. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from Saint Louis University. His advisor at Boston University where he earned his A.B. was Howard Zinn. Kirstein also attended Washington University in St. Louis. Kirstein is a progressive known for his antiwar views, dynamic lectures and support of academic freedom. He claims to be a pacifist and his popular, but highly opinionated blog, contains this motto, "Work for Peace! Protect Academic Freedom! Defend Critical Thinking in the Academy!” He has received his university's Teaching Excellence Award and is Vice President of the American Association of University Professors--Illinois Conference.

He is a nationally known advocate of academic freedom and has defended free-speech rights of many scholars who were denied tenure, incarcerated or removed from their position for speech and controversial writings. These include Norman Finkelstein, Ward Churchill, Richard Berthold, Mehrene Larudee and David Irving. Kirstein has been strongly criticized for his positions on the Iraq War, American foreign policy and speaking at an [http://hnn.us/articles/7259.html Irving] conference. Professor Kirstein debated the well-known conservative editor and critic of higher education David Horowitz on the Iraq War and academic freedom. Kirstein was profiled in Horowitz's controversial book, "The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America." He has also lectured across the United States at universities including, New York University, American University, Valparaiso University, Ohio Wesleyan University, DePaul University, McKendree College, Illinois State University, East-West University and Saint Louis University on topics ranging from war and international security to academic freedom.

Academic Freedom Controversy

Kirstein initially gained notoriety when an e-mail surfaced revealing that he made vitriolic comments to a United States Air Force Academy cadet in late October 2002. The cadet, the Air Force Academy and Kirstein exchanged mutual apologies but the controversy would not abate due to the ideologically polarized environment of the culture wars.The cadet sent the following e-mail to dozens of faculty members:

"Dear Sir or Ma’am,The Air Force Academy is going to be having our annual Academy Assembly. This is a forum for mainly but not only Political Science majors, discussing very important issues dealing with politics. Right now we are in the planning stage for advertising and we would appreciate your help in the follow areas.

"Do you know of or have methods or ways for interschool advertising and or communications? What would be the best way for us to advertise at your school whether it is sending you the fliers and you making copies or by perhaps putting an advertisement in your local publication? We would appreciate your input and the cost of what your recommend. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Very Respectfully,Cadet Robert Kurpiel"

Kirstein replied:

"You are a disgrace to this country and I am furious you would even think I would support you and your aggressive baby killing tactics of collateral damage. Help you recruit. Who, top guns to reign death and destruction upon nonwhite peoples throughout the world? Are you serious sir? Resign your commission and serve your country with honour.

"No war, no air force cowards who bomb countries without AAA, without possibility of retaliation. You are worse than the snipers. You are imperialists who are turning the whole damn world against us. September 11 can be blamed in part for what you and your cohorts have done to Palestinians, the VC, the Serbs, a retreating army at Basra.You are unworthy of my support.Peter N. Kirstein"

A public outcry from those who opposed the rhetoric of the e-mail demanded that Kirstein be punished or even fired by his administration. Kirstein apologized to the cadet and the Air Force Academy apologized for releasing an e-mail intended to be private. Over the objections of many students and with four weeks remaining in fall semester of 2002, Kirstein was suspended. Many were critical of then President Richard Yanikoski's decision to suspend and reprimand an antiwar professor as violation of his academic freedom and expressly contrary to AAUP guidelines on sanctions. Many, particularly military networks, viewed his removal from the classroom as appropriate if not too lenient. Some conservative organizations such as the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and the National Association of Scholars (NAS) publicly denounced the violation of his academic freedom to condemn the military. "The Wall Street Journal" praised his suspension in two editorials.

Publications and Activities

According to an online résumé, Kirstein has written a book, "Anglo over Bracero: The History of the Mexican Worker in the US from Roosevelt to Nixon". "The Historian, Art in America, Situation Analysis, American Diplomacy, Journal of Mexican American History, Armed Forces and Society, History News Network" have published his scholarship. "The New York Times, Weekly Standard, Arab News, Chicago Tribune, Gulf News, Chicago Sun-Times and Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" have carried op-eds and letters. Kirstein served in the US Army Reserves. One publication is forthcoming in late 2008. This includes two articles on J. Robert Oppenheimer and Academic Freedom in the "Encyclopedia of the Culture Wars", M.E. Sharpe Press. Kirstein will also be contributing a book chapter on a multi-volume work on the meaning of the September 11 attacks. Mr. Kirstein spoke at the "Freedoms at Risk Conference" at New York University on Saturday, February 23, 2008 at the Kimmel Center for Student Life. He will appear September 25, 2008 on a panel, "Iran Conflicts: Confrontation or Negotiation?," sponsored by the [http://blogs.calumet.purdue.edu/cgs/upcoming-fall-2008-event/ Center for Global Studies] --Purdue University Calumet. He will speak on "Academic Freedom and the Corporate University," October 22, 2008, at Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois. The event is hosted by the campus' American Association of University Professors [AAUP] chapter.

External links

* [http://english.sxu.edu/sites/kirstein/ Peter N. Kirstein Blog]
* [http://faculty.sxu.edu/~kirstein/ Peter N. Kirstein Website]
* [http://www.thefire.org/index.php/article/5129.html FIRE Defense of Kirstein]
* [http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/archives_roll/2001_03-06/kirstein_manhattan/kirstein_manhattan.html "American Diplomacy" on the Manhattan Project]
* [http://english.sxu.edu/sites/kirstein/?p=817 Op-ed "Statesman-Journal" (Oregon) "Eisenhower's Warning..."]
* [http://www.chicagodsa.org/ngarchive/ng89.html#anchor651785 "New Ground" on Nagasaki atomic detonation]
* [http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/941budld.asp?pg=1 "Weekly Standard" article on Kirstein]
* [http://faculty.sxu.edu/~kirstein/standard.pdf "Weekly Standard" Kirstein Response PDF]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14etO3RmxZI&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fenglish%2Esxu%2Eedu%2Fsites%2Fkirstein%2F YouTube Video: Iran Television Interview]
* [http://english.sxu.edu/sites/kirstein/?p=1012 New York University video on War and Academic Freedom]