University of Kansas professor placed on leave after using racial slur in class discussion about race. Was this warranted?

2015-11-22T11:49:45-05:00

"People talked about being scared to return to class, scared to have her in charge of their grades,” Hampton said. “I don’t think it will be a safe environment for me” teaching next year, she told the newspaper."

"Scared to return to class..."? "Not a safe environment..."?
Are they freakin serious??? Is this what we can expect now from all of our educational establishments because of a few butt-hurt students???

A white University of Kansas professor was placed on paid leave Friday after using a racial slur during a class discussion about race.

The university told Andrea Quenette, 33, an assistant professor of communication studies, that five people had filed discrimination complaints against her, she told the Lawrence Journal-World. Quenette said she requested a leave of absence and the university said she will have to remain off campus during the administrative leave until the investigation is complete.

Quenette came under fire after she used a racial slur during a Nov. 12 class for graduate students who teach undergraduate classes. The class met the day after a contentious university-wide forum on race and discrimination moderated by Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little.

Quenette has been a teacher at the University of Kansas for two years. She said that diversity in the classroom was on the syllabus, and a student asked how they could talk about race issues in their own classes. The conversation turned to how the university should address racial problems.

She said she pointed out that racist incidents on other campuses, including the University of Missouri's Columbia campus, have been very visible, and used the slur when comparing the University of Kansas to the other incidents. Quenette said she could have apologized "in the moment" if anyone had responded, but no one did, so she continued the discussion.

But Amy Schumacher, a first-year doctoral student who was in the class of nine white students and one black student, said most "just shut down" after Quenette's using the slur. Schumacher said she believes Quenette "actively violated policies" during the discussion, hurt students' feelings — including the one black student, who left "devastated" — and has a previous history of being unsympathetic to students.

Some students took to social media to address the situation. Jyleesa Hampton, a first-year communications graduate student, is one of the main tweeters of the #FireAndreaQuenette campaign and told the Journal-World that students rushed to her office to explain what had happened.

People talked about being scared to return to class, scared to have her in charge of their grades,” Hampton said. “I don’t think it will be a safe environment for me” teaching next year, she told the newspaper.

Quenette told the newspaper the campaign has been “very hurtful.”

Quenette is relieved of all teaching and service responsibilities, university spokesman Joe Monaco said. He said administrative leaves are often used "to address substantial disruptions to the learning environment or concerns about individuals' welfare" while investigations are underway.

Quenette said she hopes to secure an attorney to represent her.

She also said she believes academic freedom protects her comments and that they were not discriminatory.

"I didn't intend to offend anyone," she said. "I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I didn't direct my words at any individual or group of people."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

University of Kansas professor placed on leave after using racial slur in class discussion

A white University of Kansas professor was placed on paid leave Friday after using a racial slur during a class discussion about race.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Nov 22 at 2015 12:06 PM

2015-11-22T12:06:11-05:00

Well I disagree with use of certain words in an educational setting sometimes they are necessary to get a point across in an educational lesson. That being said there is no reason to use disparaging terms about anyone.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Nov 22 at 2015 2:20 PM

2015-11-22T14:20:20-05:00

In the established areas to broaden our thoughts and boundaries and thus better understand ourselves and global societal values and norms across the globe (college campuses) is where A word can leave a graduate class devastated? Continue your studies as you will NEVER have the intestinal fortitude to be called upon to defend your country! I hope I NEVER have to depend on these students to defend our country whatsoever.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 22 at 2015 2:51 PM

2015-11-22T14:51:02-05:00

Fire her. She is too stupid to know she wronged the class, especially the minority person.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 2:52 PM

2015-11-22T14:52:02-05:00

Really? "Terrified and devastated"?
How sheltered are these people?
I don't know what she said, but to be terrified by words basically shows that those students are pansies. This thought is reinforced by none of them challenging it on the spot, but rather filing complaints after the fact.
Good luck in the real world, Chuck, where your tender sensibilities might be injured daily.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Nov 22 at 2015 3:14 PM

2015-11-22T15:14:48-05:00

PC McCarthyism.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 22 at 2015 4:35 PM

2015-11-22T16:35:35-05:00

Am I missing something? Is the racial slur she used so offensive that it can't be mentioned? Was it the "N" word? The "F" word? The "Q" word? Or one of the "X", "Y", or "Z" words? Isn't it sad that we have to use codes? OMG, I wonder if any of the phonetic alphabet that we used in the military are "offensive" words. As I remember it the "N" word was "November". The "F" word was "Foxtrot".

Isn't offensive speech the very reason we have a 1st Amendment? Surely, unoffensive speech doesn't need protection.

I'd be ashamed to have parented anyone so devoid of a spine. Now I'm thinking hard. Who raised these precious little children who are so easily offended? I'm 72 and most people my age have grandchildren in college. I don't because I started later, marrying later than most in my generation. Most of my grandchildren are in middle school. I have one who is college age but has decided to learn a trade rather than seek a degree, and I don't think she's very easily offended.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2015 4:40 PM

2015-11-22T16:40:28-05:00

No, it's not warranted. How do you have discussions on real issues with any sincerity if you're so caught up in making every place in the world a safe little bubble where nobody feels uncomfortable or confronted? That's the entire point of college! Get out there on your own, have your ideas and beliefs challenged, learn about the subjects and about yourself! - Right? Why in the hell students keep acting like such spoiled little turds is beyond me.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2015 2:12 PM

2015-11-23T14:12:05-05:00

Well all I can say on this one is, "way to go butt hurt America"! Hope none of these students decide to join the military to defend our freedom. They may get their "feelings hurt" a lot!!!!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2015 10:21 AM

2015-11-26T10:21:08-05:00

Wow. Hate to see my alma mater go down this road. Just shows you what kind of microcosm universities have become. I'm kind of scared to let my kids enter such a world.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 1 at 2018 11:22 AM

2018-02-01T11:22:41-05:00

Follow up.
Charges found unsubstantiated, Found not to have violated university police... fired anyway ..https://www.cbsnews.com/news/university-of-kansas-teacher-andrea-quenette-who-used-racial-slur-in-class-not-reappointed/

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2016/mar/18/ku-exonerates-professor-who-used-n-word-class/

But as of today still listed as a Associate professor https://coms.ku.edu/andrea-quenette

College teacher who used racial slur in class loses job

The teacher says she "absolutely" believes the decision to fire her was based on recent race-related incidents; school says not so