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A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 19 January 2023

Art professor sues after firing over Prophet Muhammad images

By MARGARET STAFFORD According to the lawsuit,
Associated Press López Prater’s course syl-
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — At- labus included a note that
torneys for an adjunct art students would view im-
professor said Tuesday she ages of religious figures,
is suing the Minnesota uni- including the Prophet Mu-
versity that dismissed her hammad. The syllabus also
after a Muslim student ob- included an offer to work
jected to depictions of the with students uncomfort-
Prophet Muhammad in a able with viewing those im-
global art course, while the ages.
university admitted to a She also warned the class
“misstep” and plans to hold immediately before show-
public conversations about ing the depiction of the
academic freedom. Prophet Muhammad. She
In her lawsuit, Erika López said in media interviews last
Prater alleges that Hamline week that her goal was to
University a small, private teach students about the
school in St. Paul subjected “rich diversity” of attitudes
her to religious discrimina- toward such imagery.
tion and defamation, and López Prater has said she
damaged her professional and the department chair
and personal reputation. Aram Wedatalla, a Hamline University senior and the president of Muslim Student Association were discussing her teach-
(MSA), speaks during a news conference at CAIR-MN office, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in
“Among other things, Ham- Minneapolis. ing a new course, but after
line, through its adminis- Associated Press the student’s complaint she
tration, has referred to Dr. was told “her services were
López Prater’s actions as to the party being sued. sometimes we misstep,” support for students. The no longer needed.”
‘undeniably Islamopho- Attorneys for López Prater the statement said. “In the university plans to hold Hamline’s president previ-
bic,’’’ her attorneys said in said the lawsuit was served interest of hearing from and two public conversations ously said the professor’s
a statement. “Comments to Hamline University on supporting our Muslim stu- in coming months, one on contract was not renewed
like these, which have now Tuesday and will soon be dents, language was used academic freedom and following the fall semester.
been published in news filed in court. that does not reflect our student care and another The lawsuit alleges that in-
stories around the globe, Hamline University President sentiments on academic on academic freedom stead of Hamline recogniz-
will follow Dr. López Prater Fayneese Miller and Ellen freedom. Based on all that and religion. ing López Prater showed
throughout her career, po- Watters, the Board of Trust- we have learned, we have Last October López Prater the images with a proper
tentially resulting in her in- ees chair, released a joint determined that our usage showed the 14th-century academic purpose, the
ability to obtain a tenure statement Tuesday saying of the term ‘Islamophobic’ painting depicting the university chose to impose
track position at any institu- recent “communications, was therefore flawed.” Prophet Muhammad in a the student’s religious view
tion of higher education.” articles and opinion piec- The statement did not ad- lesson on Islamic art. For that no one should ever
In Minnesota, a lawsuit can es” have led the school to dress the lawsuit, but said many Muslims, visual de- view images of the prophet
be started by serving a “review and re-examine the university strongly sup- pictions of the Prophet Mu- on all other students and
summons and a complaint our actions.” ports academic freedom, hammad violate their faith, employees.q
“Like all organizations, which should co-exist with which López Prater knew.

Michigan wolf population holding steady, 2022 survey shows

Associated Press reached their biological and eventually reached he said. wolf management plan.
(AP) - Michigan’s gray wolf carrying capacity within Michigan’s Upper Penin- No wolves are known to But gray wolves still have
population remains stable the Upper Peninsula,” said sula. Numbers rose steadily live in the Lower Peninsula. federal legal protection
and might have reached Cody Norton, the DNR’s from 1989 to 2011 and have Michigan’s DNR last year and cannot be killed unless
its natural ceiling after wolf specialist. leveled off. released a draft updated in defense of human life.q
mounting a decadeslong Carrying capacity is the The DNR conducts its survey
comeback in the Upper maximum population an every two years. Last year’s
Peninsula, state biologists environment can support, estimated minimum num-
said after the latest survey. based on factors such as ber was down slightly from
An analysis of data col- food, territory, water and 695 in 2020, but officials said
lected in 2022 produced other animals with which to the totals have not differed
an estimate of 631 wolves, breed. statistically since 2011.
give or take 49, the Depart- Wolves once roamed But wolf density appears to
ment of Natural Resources across Michigan but were have shifted, decreasing in
said Tuesday. driven out, as in much of some areas of the western
The survey estimated 136 the lower 48 states, through U.P. and rising in parts of
packs roam the peninsula trapping, poisoning and the peninsula’s eastern re-
in Michigan’s far north, with bounty programs. gion, DNR wildlife biologist
an average of four to five After they were protected Brian Roell said.
animals in each. under the Endangered That could be linked to
“These results show a con- Species Act in the 1970s, a heavy snowfall and bitter
tinued trend of statistical remnant population in Min- cold between 2013 and
stability, indicating that nesota began migrating 2015 that reduced deer This April 18, 2008, file photo provided by the U.S. Fish and
gray wolves may have through northern Wisconsin densities in some places, Wildlife shows a gray wolf. Associated Press