Update on Instructor's Conduct

Dear Colleague,

On Wednesday we became aware of a video that showed a KU instructor making a highly inappropriate comment in his classroom suggesting violence against individuals for their personal views. Upon learning of the video, we immediately met with the instructor and placed him on administrative leave.

I am writing today to inform you that the instructor has left the university. We are working to identify a new instructor to assume responsibility for his classes, and we are working with the students impacted by this change.

The instructor has apologized to me and other university leaders, and he deeply regrets the situation. He has explained to us that his intent was to emphasize his advocacy for women’s rights and equality, and he recognizes he did a very poor job of doing so.

The free expression of ideas is essential to the functioning of our university, and we fully support the academic freedom of our teachers as they engage in classroom instruction. Academic freedom, however, is not a license for suggestions of violence like we saw in the video. While we embrace our university’s role as a place for all kinds of dialogue, violent rhetoric is never acceptable.

It’s no secret that higher education and, more broadly, our society continue to grapple with issues of free speech, care and respect for others, and civic engagement. The world is what we make of it. Please use this unfortunate event as an opportunity to reflect on these topics and the role each of us plays in our academic community.

Respectfully,

Barb

Barbara A. Bichelmeyer

Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor