BYU
Media Roots Interview with Brett Smith, Creator of Hypothesis
Interview with Filmmaker Brett Smith, Creator of Hypothesis by Media Roots
This is an exclusive Media Roots Radio interview with Utah based documentarian Brett Smith, conducted by Abby and Robbie Martin on February 23, 2011.
In 2006, Brett's love of films drew him into taking a film class where he was required to make a 15 minute short. That 15 minute short later turned into 40 minute documentary called Hypothesis.
Hypothesis is a documentary that follows physicis professor Steven E. Jones during a pivotal time in his life. In 2005, Jones went public with a theory about 9/11 that was so controversial, it resulted in everything from hate mail, threats, and even bribery to try to end his research. Despite the outside pressures, Jones vowed to never give up on his pursuit of the truth.
Will BYU Administrators talk about Steven Jones?
While filming my documentary about Steven Jones, one of the issues I've tried to uncover is the exact reason Dr Jones was placed on paid administrative leave. BYU repeated this statement to the press numerous times: "The increasingly accusitory and speculative comments being made by Dr Jones regarding the collapse of the WTC."
I don't know about anyone else, but I find this explanation to be quite vague. What were the accusitory/speculative comments exactly? Did Dr Jones violate academic standards? Does this have anything to do with BYU's stance on being "polically neutral?" Was it because of Dick Cheney's visit several months later? Was it the man threatening Jones? Does BYU beleive in something called freedom of speech? All of these questions I would like to have answered. A rational person would think that BYU would want to quell any kind of speculation this event may bring to the public mind. However, my experiences show quite the opposite.
Write in Support of Professor Jones
Please write respectful and polite letters to local news media in and around Brigham Young University, supporting Professor Jones' call for an investigation into the World Trade Center collapses and supporting the importance of the controlled demolition data which he has brought forth so far.
Dr. Jones has falsely been accused of anti-semitism. But that's just a distraction and a red herring.
It is important to focus on his research, including his lab results finding thermite/thermate-like byproducts in metal from the World Trade Centers.
If you have the addresses of the local newspapers, television and radio stations near BYU, please post them here.
BYU's 'Conspiracy' Professor Getting New Support
http://kutv.com/local/local_story_256194352.html
(KUTV) SALT LAKE CITY - It’s a local story – with ties to September 11th – that won’t go away.
Now, a BYU professor who believes a conspiracy was involved in the terror attacks on America is getting support from fellow scholars.
Physicist Steven Jones was put on administrative leave last week, because BYU officials were worried that his conspiracy beliefs are tarnishing the university’s image. The school also expressed concern over his research methods.
Jones believes that the hijacked airliners that crashed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 were not enough to topple the towers by themselves. He says the resulting fire simply did not burn hot enough to cause the structural damage necessary for the buildings to collapse.
Many have criticized Jones for his theory, but now an academic group is stepping forward to offer support.
A local chapter of the American Association of University Professors is criticizing BYU for its actions, saying that it restricts academic _expression of thought.
“The way that our institutions are supposed to work is, to raise questions,” said AAUP local founder Larry Anderson. “Let everybody else attack if they must.”
“This will help the information about his case get out to other people who are interested in academic freedom,” he added.
In response, BYU issued a statement saying that it “did not make its decision based on external pressure.”
Jones’ conspiracy theory is still generating some interest on the internet, among both supporters and critics – including Popular Mechanics, which says it can discredit any conspiracy theory.
Why Professor Jones was put on "Paid Leave"
An article in U.S. News and World Report states:
"BYU's explanation for Jones's review cites his accusations about government involvement . . . not the quality of his research into the collapse's physics . . . ."
This is what I've been hearing also: that the cause of BYU putting Professor Jones on "paid leave" pending further review is not that the school has become concerned about his 9/11 physics research. Instead, it is Professor Jones' accusations concerning the involvement in 9/11 of prominent U.S. government employees and other powerful people that has BYU running scared.
Postscript: Professor Jones has not issued any requests for help. If he does so, I'll promptly post them.
BYU and Steve Jones
I spoke with a Salt Lake City resident close to Professor Jones, who said that we should NOT write heated or nasty letters to BYU right now. He is helping to organize a campaign to help Professor Jones that will be more effective.
Please DON'T write or call BYU until I receive further guidance from him or from Steve Jones himself.
UPDATE: This reliable source tells me that Professor Jones himself removed his paper "Why Indeed Did the WTC Buildings Collapse?" from the BYU website and moved it to the Scholars website and the Journal of 9/11 Studies. Apparently, as odd as this sounds, he did this for reasons wholly unrelated to the "paid leave" issue.