Briefly in the news

In response to allegations by four Muslim students that an Orange

Coast College political science professor called one of them a terrorist,

the administration has hired an outside agency to handle the

investigation.

The agency will interview professor Kenneth Hearlson -- who is on paid

administrative leave -- the alleged recipient of his remarks and other

students in the class, said Jim Carnett, spokesman for the college. The

agency will then present its findings to administration officials, who

will decide Hearlson’s fate, Carnett added.

The Muslim students contend that Hearlson called 18-year-old Mooath

Saidi a terrorist during a debate in a Sept. 18 class and now demand that

OCC fire the instructor.