University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) has moved to terminate its second instructor within a week for use of racist slurs.
On a social media account, assistant nursing professor, Mary Holmes, wrote “Thank God for our President. He takes no salary for his loyal commitment. Not like the monkey before him” on an article – referencing former President Barack Obama. A screenshot of the comment is circulating online, with many calling to action of her termination.
After much public outcry, ULM posted the following statement online Tuesday, June 9:
“The ULM Faculty handbook defines expectations for faculty behavior in regards to citizenship and civility. The behavior we have witnessed this week does not reflect the values of this institution or civilized society. Both faculty have been placed on administrative leave. A letter of termination has been sent to the instructor. For tenured faculty, we have defined steps that must be taken in sequence prior to termination to ensure due process. Those steps have been initiated.”
The other instructor involved in racially insensitive postings is Dennis Bell – biology professor – who commented on police brutality as a “a narrative created and perpetuated by the Democrat party and the leftist news media to keep blacks on the democrat plantation.” In another Facebook post, Bell asks “if you’re white, please join me in documenting the unfair reporting and instances of black on white crime.”
ULM hosted a University Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Forum from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. today (June 9) for ULM faculty, staff and students.
Another Louisiana University, LSU, has come under fire after an incoming freshman was called out for using a racial slur in a video.
Many, including actress Skai Jackson, reached out to LSU via Twitter, requesting the students admission be rescinded. LSU responded with a statement:
“To be clear, we at LSU condemn hate and bigotry in any form, including racially incendiary remarks. As a state university, however, we are subject to constitutional limitation on our ability to take action in response to free speech. More: https://lsu.edu/together/”
The response has caused instructors at LSU to stand in solidarity with the Black LSU community by stating their right to remove racists from their classes.
Meanwhile, another public university has taken a decidedly tougher stand. The University of Florida has recently put out a statement on the status of an incoming student, stating:
“A prospective student who posted racist comments in social media will not be joining the University of Florida community this fall.”
