Morris Starsky
Encyclopedia
Morris Joseph Starsky an American
political and social activist and philosophy
professor
, served as a tenured faculty member in the Arizona State University
Philosophy Department until his termination by the Arizona Board of Regents
in 1970.
degree from the University of Rochester
in 1955. He went on to earn his MA
degree (1958) and PhD
degree (1967) in Philosophy from the University of Michigan
.
Prior to being hired at Arizona State, Starsky was a lecturer at University of Washington. He taught a number of courses including a seminar on Spinoza. His approach to philosophy was eclectic but in the analytic tradition. The anti-Vietnam war protests had not yet fully taken hold, but Starsky was an outspoken opponent even then.
Starsky was hired by Arizona State University as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy in 1964 while he was completing work on his doctoral degree. While he avoided politicizing his class lectures, he became a controversial and outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War
, a vigorous supporter of organized labor, and an active participant in the Socialist Workers Party
. He was the faculty coordinator for the ASU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society
. His aggressive and at times profane commentary landed several radio and television news appearances.
students who were arrested while demonstrating against their university’s participation in sports competitions with Brigham Young University
. Termination proceedings citing several violations of university and regential policy were initiated by the ASU administration, but the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the Faculty Senate chaired by Political Science Professor Ross Rice and ASU President Harry Newburn would not support termination. That spring, the Arizona Board of Regents refused to renew Starsky's contract - effectively firing him. Starsky's termination would lead to a later response by the American Association of University Professors.
, and subsequent litigation later resulted in a significant award of damages paid to the Socialist Workers Party.http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/swp.htm#starsky
censured ASU for failing to respect professors' right to tenure. Starsky worked a variety of jobs after his separation from ASU, including temporary teaching appointments at San Diego State University
and Cleveland State University
. In 1981, ASU President J. Russell Nelson agreed to a settlement with Starsky for a small portion of back wages, which Starsky accepted because of his deteriorating health. Starsky's declining health had forced him to retire in 1978 and he subsisted on disability payments. Starsky died of a degenerative heart disease in 1989.
Starsky was survived by his wife - Lorraine Starsky and their two sons, Jacob Benjamin and Samuel Elliot.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
political and social activist and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
, served as a tenured faculty member in the Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
Philosophy Department until his termination by the Arizona Board of Regents
Arizona Board of Regents
The Arizona Board of Regents is the governing body of Arizona's public university system, providing policy guidance to Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, the University of Arizona and their branch campuses.-Organization:...
in 1970.
Early career
Starsky graduated with a BABachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
in 1955. He went on to earn his MA
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
degree (1958) and PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree (1967) in Philosophy from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
.
Prior to being hired at Arizona State, Starsky was a lecturer at University of Washington. He taught a number of courses including a seminar on Spinoza. His approach to philosophy was eclectic but in the analytic tradition. The anti-Vietnam war protests had not yet fully taken hold, but Starsky was an outspoken opponent even then.
Starsky was hired by Arizona State University as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy in 1964 while he was completing work on his doctoral degree. While he avoided politicizing his class lectures, he became a controversial and outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, a vigorous supporter of organized labor, and an active participant in the Socialist Workers Party
Socialist Workers Party (United States)
The Socialist Workers Party is a far-left political organization in the United States. The group places a priority on "solidarity work" to aid strikes and is strongly supportive of Cuba...
. He was the faculty coordinator for the ASU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society (1960 organization)
Students for a Democratic Society was a student activist movement in the United States that was one of the main iconic representations of the country's New Left. The organization developed and expanded rapidly in the mid-1960s before dissolving at its last convention in 1969...
. His aggressive and at times profane commentary landed several radio and television news appearances.
Rally and Termination
On January 14, 1970 Starsky requested and was granted permission by his department chair to dismiss class so he could attend an anti-racism rally at Tucson. He appeared in support of eight University of ArizonaUniversity of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
students who were arrested while demonstrating against their university’s participation in sports competitions with Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. Termination proceedings citing several violations of university and regential policy were initiated by the ASU administration, but the Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the Faculty Senate chaired by Political Science Professor Ross Rice and ASU President Harry Newburn would not support termination. That spring, the Arizona Board of Regents refused to renew Starsky's contract - effectively firing him. Starsky's termination would lead to a later response by the American Association of University Professors.
Advocacy
In 1975 Starsky became one of the first US citizens to receive federal records under the newly created Freedom of Information Act. He received FBI files that revealed he was the subject of illegal wiretap and surveillance activities, and that the FBI attempted to facilitate his dismissal from ASU by sending an anonymous letter to university officials accusing Starsky of fomenting violence. He was one of the first people targeted by the FBI program known as COINTELPROCOINTELPRO
COINTELPRO was a series of covert, and often illegal, projects conducted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation aimed at surveilling, infiltrating, discrediting, and disrupting domestic political organizations.COINTELPRO tactics included discrediting targets through psychological...
, and subsequent litigation later resulted in a significant award of damages paid to the Socialist Workers Party.http://www.icdc.com/~paulwolf/cointelpro/swp.htm#starsky
Later Life and ASU Settlement
Following his termination, the American Association of University ProfessorsAmerican Association of University Professors
The American Association of University Professors is an organization of professors and other academics in the United States. AAUP membership is about 47,000, with over 500 local campus chapters and 39 state organizations...
censured ASU for failing to respect professors' right to tenure. Starsky worked a variety of jobs after his separation from ASU, including temporary teaching appointments at San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
and Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
. In 1981, ASU President J. Russell Nelson agreed to a settlement with Starsky for a small portion of back wages, which Starsky accepted because of his deteriorating health. Starsky's declining health had forced him to retire in 1978 and he subsisted on disability payments. Starsky died of a degenerative heart disease in 1989.
Starsky was survived by his wife - Lorraine Starsky and their two sons, Jacob Benjamin and Samuel Elliot.