University officials review report professor promoted moon landing conspiracy

<p>William Paterson University officials say that they are looking into a report that a professor was telling students the moon landing was faked and promoting other conspiracy theories.</p>

News 12 Staff

Jun 13, 2018, 11:36 AM

Updated 2,136 days ago

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William Paterson University officials say that they are looking into a report that a professor was telling students the moon landing was faked and promoting other conspiracy theories.
Freshman student Benny Koval, of Fair Lawn, says she raised concerns after sociology professor Clyde Magarelli said things in class that she says made her and others uncomfortable.
School officials are reviewing videos of the lectures. One video apparently shows Magarelli telling students that landing someone on the moon was impossible.
Magarelli also spoke about the Holocaust and slavery, according to some of the other videos sent to News 12 New Jersey.
A spokesperson for the university says in a statement to News 12, “A review of this matter is underway to determine what action may be warranted. Our commitment to academic excellence is addressed in one of the University's five core values:  ‘As individuals and as an institution, we seek to model and to impart to our students the highest standards of knowledge, inquiry, preparation, academic freedom and integrity, as well as an expanded sense of what an individual can accomplish.’”
Koval says she was told Magarelli previously had complaints filed against him.
Magarelli - who has taught at William Paterson since 1967 - did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.


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