Denver professor under probe for assigning students anti-Palin essay

Denver (Colorado US), Sept.19 : An English teacher at Denver's Metropolitan State College is being investigated by the college for bias, bullying and harassment after he gave students in his class an assignment to "undermine" Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.

Metropolitan State College spokeswoman Cathy Lucas told FOX News that the college has not received a formal complaint against Professor Andrew Hallam, but the school is asking students who know more to come forward.

Janna Barber told Channel 4 in Denver that students in her English class were asked to write an essay based on three sources that criticize, undermine or contradict the Republican portrayal of Palin's life as "a fairy tale" during her speech at the Republican National Convention.

"I was shocked. I was like, holy cow. This is just an open door for him to discuss politics with us," Barber told the station.

Barber also accused Hallam of singling out Republican students and allowed other students to ridicule them.

According to the report on WorldNetDaily.com, the assignment read: "Note her body language, facial expressions, the way she dressed, what she said and who she pointed out or talked about in her speech. How do these elements form a 'fairy tale' image about Sarah Palin as a person and as a politician that the Republican Party may wish its members and the American public to believe?"

After hearing from a student that some in the class were uncomfortable with the assignment, Hallam expanded it to include commentary on Barack Obama, John McCain and Joe Biden, Lucas said.

Lucas said the college learned of the allegations from media reports and stressed that students can file complaints with the college that are investigated by administrators.

ANI