San Juan Capistrano Councilman's Dog Is Still Named Muhammad, But He's No Longer Teaching at Concordia

Derek Reeve of the San Juan Capistrano City Council, the man who refused to apologize for naming his dog Muhammad, is no longer teaching at Concordia University in Irvine. Neither side will say why Reeve is no longer employed, though he continues to work part-time at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. Reeve, a Concordia part-timer, was teaching two political-science courses this fall.

"Unfortunately, at this time I am not at liberty to comment," said Reeve, reports The OC Register. "Hopefully that will change in the coming weeks."

"Derek Reeve is not currently employed by Concordia," a university spokeswoman said Friday, declining to provide an explanation, according to San Juan Capistrano Patch.

Aside from the heat he received for his basset hound's controversial name, Reeve has also been under scrutiny for allegedly plagiarizing parts of several blog essays he wrote for San Juan Capistrano Patch plus two City Council staff reports. In a guest column published on October 6 in the Capistrano Valley News, Reeve stated that he had "carelessly submitted previously published material."

Concordia and Saddleback have rules and disciplinary measures for students who plagiarize, but neither campus stated whether these rules, or any rules, apply to faculty.

Reeve continues to stand by his dog's name and his related comments during a City Council meeting in September, despite scorn by councilmembers and local Muslim leaders.