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Doctors and teachers share a similar fear-malpractice. It has become resoundingly easy for a patient or student to ruin someone’s a life or family, let alone a career. In my high school, a choir teacher was forced to resign because there were rumors she was sleeping with a student. There have been countless doctors who have been slapped with malpractice suits because another doctor gave a patient (or their family) a diagnosis that was a little too “cheery.” While it is a good thing we lay-people have such practices in place, we need to realize the power we hold.

And of course, there are things the doctors and professors can do better. But remember that they have the shorter end of the stick. This time, a professor had to sort through the remarkably large library of writings and other works created by minority authors and artists. Sometimes, while dealing with a body of knowledge that expansive, some details can be missed.

But sometimes it is not even a mistake being made. Sometimes it is just a difference in opinion. If in a class that covered, for instance, Christian texts, the Bible would by far be given the most attention. But there are plenty of theologists and religious scholars who say that the Apocrypha, Luther’s 95 Theses, and perhaps even fictitious work can be just as importantčnot only for an understanding of the religion, but of the societies and cultures in which the religion is dominant.

There is a level of personal responsibility on the shoulders of those students. If they want to learn more about the surrounding chapters, it is up to them to research it independently. Class time is limited and not all issues can be covered, and if one subject is given more time, that time must be taken away from other subjects.

In this situation, Stephen Phillion, the professor in question, was attacked by students for using the word “smorgasbord” for “equating racism with food.” That is just immature and seems to be looking for something to get angry about.
When students are unsatisfied with their education, there are plenty of ways to deal with it before getting the administration involved. Sometimes this is called for, but only when both parties can’t sit down and be mature and respectful of each other. Keep in mind that this is not saying that one camp needs to completely fold to the other, or even that anything needs to change. In this situation, the syllabus may remain the same, provided that it is explained to the students why the professor chose what he did. If the students do not agree with the reasoning then they can argue why they feel that way and the professor should be more than open to hear their opinions and consider change. One-on-one contact, even if mediated as to avoid personal conflict, is an important and necessary first stage in any resolution.