Shame on you, Indrek Wichman.
Come on, you didn't really send an offensive e-mail to a prominent student organization with the notion that it was going to be kept private — did you?
Well, you're saying you did, but that was a pretty irresponsible move for an MSU professor.
Seriously.
The Muslim Students' Association received an e-mail Feb. 28 sent from your university account in which you blatantly verbally attacked the organization and basically told them if they don't like Western ways, to leave the United States.
That's quite a thing to say.
But as disturbing as that might be, what is arguably worse is the e-mail The State News received from you in which you appear to have decided maybe you should have actually thought this one through before typing out a ranting, accusatory e-mail.
You're singing a different tune stating, "A communication that I thought was private was subsequently made public, much to my chagrin. That is troubling, and I regret this entire incident."
If you're going to have the audacity to label a whole group of people, you better at least be able to back up your claims if need be.
But instead you hid behind regret.
There's no denying that you have the right to harbor the idiotic opinion about Muslims that you do, but using your MSU e-mail account and introducing yourself as a professor of mechanical engineering in the first sentence is unfairly looping the university in with your claims.
Although you're intolerant, apparently you're lucky too. Even if most people don't agree with your statements, the university can't and shouldn't punish you for exercising your freedom of speech.
Until your words become harassment, meaning relentless and widespread actions, they don't fall under the university's antidiscrimination policy.
But what MSU, the Muslim Students' Association and other members of the community who oppose your hateful message need to do is simple.
The only way to contradict a perspective as disagreeable as yours is to talk out against it with positive speech.
Muslim students are welcome at MSU and in East Lansing and they deserve to feel comfortable both on and off campus.
Your e-mail is another specific incident which reaffirms that MSU should insist upon diversity and sensitivity training, not only for students, but throughout the entire university.
In fact, they should probably start with you.
