The University of New Hampshire decided this past week not to take action against a professor for his controversial opinions on the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
A letter dated Sept. 6 to the American Council of Trustees and Alumni said Woodward's teaching met accepted standards, despite his atypical viewpoints.
The investigation of psychology professor William Woodward came at the behest of New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and the ACTA after Woodward made controversial comments during a July television appearance.
The ACTA, a conservative watchdog group, also made news in July when it praised UW-Madison's investigation of lecturer Kevin Barrett for similar reasons.
Barrett and Woodward are members of the group ""Scholars for 9/11 Truth,"" an organization that asserts Bush administration officials planned or had foreknowledge of the 9/11 attacks. The group has more than 300 members, more than 70 of which are university faculty at various institutions.
Barrett said he expects the interest in alternative theories about the 9/11 attacks to grow in the next few years, and he called the investigations of group members ""a concerted attempt to intimidate the academic world.""
Woodward and Barrett both said their views play only small roles in their classrooms, and they have had very little student response since their investigations have concluded.
""I do go out of my way to avoid imposing my views on students,"" Barrett said. He told his students the subject would not be discussed in his Islam class before the sessions designated to the topic.
UW-Madison political science professor Donald Downs said Woodward and Barrett may have been more outspoken than their peers, and therefore subject to more scrutiny.
Downs said he knows a Notre Dame professor who believes the Mafia killed John F. Kennedy.
""I think it's a question of how you entertain the views,"" Downs said, explaining that there is a difference between professors who teach ""probabilistic"" theories, rather than theories they are convinced are true.
Downs said the Barrett investigation was ""like a tsunami"" in the way it overwhelmed the university news before the fall semester.
Jon Pevehouse, a UW-Madison political science professor, said the investigations may be a result of this increased media attention.
Pevehouse said the controversy will become less of an issue over time, in much the same way those who deny the Holocaust are no longer publicized.
""People just sort of let them fade away,"" Pevehouse said. ""They don't give them attention, and they don't give them a platform.""
Woodward said any parallels drawn between Scholars for 9/11 Truth and Holocaust deniers are inaccurate.
""There's virtually no evidence"" for Holocaust denial, Woodward said.
""That's very wacko.""
