College professor pressured students to vote for Obama

[Alan C.]

College: Fire professor who forced students to vote for Obama

A tenured professor who forced her students to sign pledges that they would vote for President Barack Obama last November should be fired, the college’s president recommended.

Sharon Sweet, an associate professor of mathematics at Brevard Community College in Florida, is guilty of electioneering, harassment, and incompetence, according to a three-month investigation into her classroom behavior leading up to the November election.

The Board of Trustees will hold a hearing on the matter, and then vote on whether to adopt President James Richey’s recommendation that Sweet be fired.

According to a report on the investigation:

“Professor Sweet strongly encouraged or mandated that students from several classes sign a pledge card that stated, ‘I pledge to vote for President Obama and Democrats up and down the ticket.’ She also misrepresented her intentions to multiple students, indicating at various times that she was conducting voter registration for the college, that the pledge cards were non-partisan voter registration forms, and that the pledge was a ‘statistical analysis.’”

In the eyes of the college, Sweet clearly created a hostile environment for students, since many feared their grades would be affected if they did not sign the pledge. She remains on paid leave until the board votes to fire her.

[In the belly of the beast]

I'm not surprised anymore when I hear stories like this occurring in English or other arts classes, but it's sad to see a professor of mathematics doing this.  I'd have though they'd be the sanest and most rational among the professoriate, given their training and the personalities drawn to this area of studies.

[Mick Bynes]

She should be absolutely fired for that.  It's up to a person who they want to vote for.  If I was in her course, I wouldn't sign that pledge at all and I don't care if that means I fail her course or whatever.

[Bridges]

My experience in College was that of being pressured to vote regardless of who you vote for, ( " it's your duty" "make a change" " be a good citizen" and other bromides were abundant last year when I was in a course legislative processes.) I can't remember who pointed out that, no matter who you vote for , the government wins. I found the teachers actionsvery amusing.