The University Chronicle has retracted the anti-Semitism claims made against Dean Lewis in its article, but the paper apparently stands by the claims regarding the withholding of the student’s grade. In its original story the Chronicle quoted the student:
“When my independent study was done and I was waiting for my grade, Lewis informed me that I would be getting an incomplete when I had gotten an 'A'," Hoy said. "He told me if I wanted my grade I would have to take the class over with him….”

Please help me figure this out. The student received an ‘A’ from whom? Apparently from Professor Stryker. But Stryker had already stopped showing up for her classes by early April. In mid-April, all her classes were officially reassigned to other faculty members in the History Department who became the instructors of record. Dean Lewis, who was also a professor in the History Department, picked up Stryker’s independent study.

In order to believe the student’s story, one must conclude that Stryker, having quit teaching all her other classes, somehow was authorized (certainly not by the Dean) to continue teaching this independent study and submit a grade. Highly unlikely.

Did the Chronicle interview anyone in the History Department to find out the facts regarding the student’s claims? Did the Chronicle make any effort to verify the truthfulness of the story? If not, may I suggest that the Chronicle conduct such investigations, albeit belatedly, for the benefit of its readers?