Prof’s remark about abortion, disability angers students
February 16th, 2008From the Charlotte News & Observer:
A biology professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill stirred controversy this week when he told his class that fetuses with Down syndrome should be aborted.
Sarah Truluck, who coordinates membership in the campus group Best Buddies, criticized Professor Albert Harris’ statement in a press release. Best Buddies pairs college students with cognitively disabled adults.
“It is shocking to find that a university professor can be so ignorant of the issues at stake,” she said. “We will continue to fight the stereotype that people with disabilities are somehow less than human, and encourage others to do the same.”
Harris, 64, has taught embryology at UNC-CH for 35 years, and has made the statement about Down syndrome and abortion many times. He says it’s the moral thing to do because of the effect on families. “I know somebody who had a child like this, and it ruined their life,” he said.
… Holden Thorp, the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, said if a complaint comes to administrators from a student it will be thoroughly investigated.
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February 22nd, 2008 at 6:43 pm
All life is precious and for someone to make such a statement for whatever reason is just wrong. This is not about teaching factual information. It is about spreading bias, venom and even hate. Harris got hate mail because when you put hateful ideas out into the universe that is what is going to come back to you.
My son has Down syndrome and he has enriched my life in a way that is beyond anything that I could ever asked for. He has taught me what love is all about. And love is not sex which is something our society seems to have embraced. Love is about responsibilty to our fellow human beings.
Mr. Harris’ statement is irresponsible. It does not encourage thoughtful discussion but only expresses devaluation of human life. I think our world is in a state of severe devaluation of human life as evidenced by the number of mass shootings that have occurred in recent years. I think Mr. Harris has a duty to retract his comments and it would serve the best interest of all for him to resign.