Hamline faculty call for college president's resignation following Muhammad art flap

MINNEAPOLIS -- Faculty at Hamline University are calling for the college's president to step down.

Last week, Hamline University President Fayneese Miller admitted to making mistakes in the handling of a controversy that started in early October, when a Muslim student complained about an adjunct professor showing an image of the Prophet Muhammad in an art class.

The adjunct professor, Dr. Erika Lopez Prater, said following the complaint she was told she wouldn't teach a course during the spring semester. She has filed a lawsuit against the university.

On Tuesday, Hamline's faculty issued a statement saying in part, "we reject unfounded accusations of Islamophobia" and that "we no longer have faith in President Miller's ability to lead the university forward."

"There's been a crisis on campus, and it's been viewed by the whole world," said Jim Scheibel, president of the Hamline University Faculty Council.

"We're the oldest university in Minnesota. A great tradition of leaders, of people being involved. We want to restore that reputation and the faculty believes to move forward and even be better, new leadership was needed at the top," said Scheibel.

The National Council on American-Islamic Relations says it recognizes the concerns and impact but calls academic freedom important and encourages everyone involved to reexamine the situation with open minds.

Hamline University President Fayneese Miller released a statement on Thursday evening in which she said, in part, that "My charge includes upholding academic freedom as a cornerstone of higher education. I will continue to work with students, faculty, and the entire Hamline University community to support the best in liberal arts education, with care and respect for all."