University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill responded in writing Wednesday to the subcommittee that is examining allegations against him, urging them to stop.
Churchill said in his three-page response that the committee had insufficient grounds to continue with any further inquiry, which he called “smoke rings.”
Last month, the subcommittee forwarded questions to CU’s Standing Committee on Research Misconduct concerning Churchill’s historical and legal interpretations, as well as his adherence to conventions of citation and attribution, he said.
The committee recommended that allegations that he misrepresented himself as an American Indian be thrown out, Churchill said.
Churchill said none of the original allegations against him remains intact, and that the allegations the committee recommended be studied further were “much diluted.”
The group of professors also rejected a copyright-infringement claim against Churchill in the preliminary findings.
The full committee will soon vote on the subcommittee’s report and then turn it over to the provost.
