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U.S. NEWS A5
Thursday 7 January 2016
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Chicago-area college professor disputes university accounts
SOPHIA TAREEN Rev. Jesse Jackson. Wheaton College professor Larycia Hawkins is joined by Rev. Jesse Jackson during a news
Associated Hawkins, a political science conference Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, in Chicago. Hawkins, who’s Christian, and posted her views
CHICAGO (AP) — The pro- professor, said she met with on Facebook and wore a headscarf to show solidarity with Muslims, is disputing the university’s
fessor of a Christian college administrators several times account of interactions with administrators who’ve initiated steps to fire her. Suburban Chicago’s
who asserted Christians after the Facebook post- Wheaton College initiated the termination-for-cause proceeding against Hawkins on Tuesday,
and Muslims worship the ing and provided state- saying she refused to participate in “clarifying conversations” about theological issues.
same God said Wednes- ments explaining her be-
day that her views are liefs which she said don’t (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
in line with the suburban contradict the college’s.
Chicago college’s mission Hawkins said she was told Students, alumni, profes- as the granddaughter of a “Wheaton College can-
and disputed university ac- further discussions weren’t sors and clergy members pastor. not scare me into walking
counts of interactions with required, but college offi- from several faiths spoke She reinforced her views, away from the truth that
administrators who’ve tak- cials then changed their re- Wednesday in support saying that she believed all humans, Muslims, the
en steps to fire her. quirements and said she’d of Hawkins, with Jackson Muslims, Christians and vulnerable, the oppressed
Larycia Hawkins, who’s have to participate in two comparing her to Rosa Jews were all “people of of any ilk, are all my sisters
Christian, was placed on years of ongoing conversa- Parks. Hawkins, who has the book.” She also alleged and brothers. And I am
leave at Wheaton College tions during which time her been at the university since that the university’s actions called by Jesus to walk with
in December after posting tenure would be revoked. 2007, detailed her religious were to “placate platinum them in their oppression,”
her views on Facebook. She said university officials upbringing in Oklahoma donors.” she said.q
She also wore a headscarf advised her to get an attor-
to show solidarity with Mus- ney, and the next commu-
lims. College officials said nication was the notice of
her views were inconsistent termination proceedings.
with the college’s “doctri- “The rules changing, the
nal convictions.” goal post keeps moving.
On Tuesday, they said And I said, ‘I have dignity,
she refused to participate I’ve answered your ques-
in further conversations tions and my statement
about theological issues stands,’” she said Wednes-
and initiated termination- day.
for-cause proceedings. She said nothing about her
However, Hawkins said views contradict the col-
she tried to reconcile with lege’s statement of faith,
university officials during a which all instructors sign.
news conference Wednes- Among other things it af-
day at a downtown Chi- firms belief in “one sover-
cago church where she eign God,” views on Adam
received backing from reli- and Eve and the existence
gious leaders, including the of Satan.
Los Angeles County prosecutors reject Cosby sex charges
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los that destroyed his good- district attorney’s office in- worksheet. Charges also with Los Angeles police de-
Angeles County prosecu- guy image as America’s vestigated allegations by were declined in the case tectives in January to detail
tors declined Wednesday Dad. His lawyers have a woman who said that of a woman who claimed her allegations. Cosby’s at-
to charge Bill Cosby with called the charges in that in 1965, when she was 17 she attended a party at torney at the time released
sexually abusing two teen- case unjustified and said years old, Cosby took her the Playboy Mansion in the a statement denying the
agers in 1965 and 2008, cit- they expected Cosby to be to a jazz club in Hollywood, summer of 2008, when she accusation and saying
ing time limits and a lack of exonerated. bought her alcoholic drinks, was 18, during which Cos- Cosby was not in Los Ange-
evidence. An email to Cosby attorney and took her to a home in by gave drinks to her and a les at the time.
The decision comes about Monique Pressley seeking the Hollywood Hills where friend. Investigators found Cosby
a week after Cosby, 78, comment wasn’t immedi- he forced her to have sex. The woman claimed she wasn’t listed as a guest at
was charged with drug- ately returned “Filing the crime of forcible felt dizzy and sick and Cos- any 2008 summer events at
ging and sexually assault- Dozens of women have ac- rape is barred by the stat- by offered to take her to lie the mansion and a woman
ing a woman in 2004 inside cused Cosby of sex assaults ute of limitations and as down in a room where she that the alleged victim said
his home near Philadelphia or attempted molestations such, any consideration of blacked out. The woman was a potential witness de-
— the first criminal case in incidents dating back a criminal filing is prohibited said she awoke naked. nied knowing her or being
brought against him out of more than four decades. by law,” said comments on Authorities investigated af- at the mansion, according
the torrent of allegations In Los Angeles County, the a DA’s charge evaluation ter model Chloe Goins met to the DA’s worksheet.q
