University correct to ‘fess up to its error

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It’s rare, but UCLA acknowledged and apologized for one of
its mistakes.

After suspending Jonnie Hargis, a library assistant at the
Charles E. Young Research Library, for sending an e-mail message
criticizing what he called U.S.-supported apartheid policies in
Israel, the university has offered to restore him to full status,
pay his lost wages, and remove the disciplinary action from his
record.

But this doesn’t seem to be enough for the union that
represents Hargis. The Coalition of University Employees wants to
use the noose they have around the university’s neck to force
library staff into undergoing anti-discrimination training.

The university should not accept this excessive demand and CUE
should abandon its proposal. Library administrators were wrong in
suspending Hargis, but the university has reversed its action.
While it’s unfortunate that Hargis has to face unfriendly
behavior at work, it isn’t something the university can or
should control.

Hargis needs to realize fellow employees will resent his
controversial opinions, especially when he expresses them in public
forums, like radio shows. Hargis’ freedom of speech has to be
respected ““ but he also needs to respect others’
freedom to disagree and stop victimizing himself.

If the university is mature enough to admit and repair its
mistakes, Hargis should be mature enough to accept that apology and
get back to work.