SAM McPhetres has been a highly respected scholar and the keeper of CNMI history since its very beginning. For the last several decades, he has ably passed this knowledge on to the next generation through his position as teaching faculty at NMC.
In addition, using polls and surveys as tools, he has taught his students valuable skills: to think critically, to prioritize, to communicate, to collect, evaluate and present data, as they identified various social issues facing the CNMI.
Now, that voice has been cut off. Why? Allegedly because NMC’s administration did not like the findings of the students’ research.
McPhetres may or may not have been ready to retire. Nonetheless, to force him off the faculty in order to censor student activities is a violation of his rights, as well as those of the students.
NMC is the CNMI’s only public institution of higher education. As such, one expects it — and indeed, it is obligated — to uphold the values and standards that come with academics, not the least of which is freedom of expression — even of dissent, and the right to voice an opinion — even if different.
Yet, in this instance, NMC is stifling, curtailing, abrogating its students’ constitutionally guaranteed right of freedom of speech, and, in effect, has fired their teacher for allowing the students to exercise that right.
Such conduct on the part of the NMC administration is shameful, as well as downright embarrassing.
If this action is allowed to stand, it will prove NMC’s lack of commitment to academic freedom.
RUTH TIGHE
Tanapag, Saipan
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