Sociology prof swears at conservative student during class
Brookdale Community College is investigating a heated classroom exchange in which a sociology professor shouted “f--- your life” at a conservative student.
Professor Howard Finkelstein’s remark was captured on video and appeared to be a direct response to a student’s statement implying that men and women can both be victims of sexual assault, NJ Advance Media reported.
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The 23-year-old student, Christopher Lyle, told the publication that he had numerous other disagreements with Finkelstein throughout the semester, and that the professor routinely tells him to “shut up” in class.
The academic also reportedly criticized the student for being a gun owner, and has argued that Lyle’s views are “the reason America is not great.”
Another student in the class, Joey Smith, told NJ.com that he recorded the video because he was tired of seeing the professor argue with Lyle and because Finkelstein “is basically just lecturing this one student for the whole period.”
”We are sitting there and he is speaking directly to Chris, going back and forth about personal thoughts,” he added.
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In response to Finkelstein’s outburst, Lyle told the publication that he pays money to learn, and not “to get lectured on my beliefs.”
In addition to his confrontation with Finkelstein, Lyle also claimed that a Brookdale administrator pulled him out of class the day after the argument in an effort to evaluate whether his ownership of guns poses a threat to the college community.
”It is in the best interest of all members of our community for the college to do its due diligence when a student or employee mentions firearms during the process of an investigation,” the school said in a statement to NJ.com. “The matter concerning the student’s statements about firearms has been investigated and the incident is closed.”
Campus Reform reached out to Lyle and Finkelstein for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
Follow the author of this article on Twitter: @MattAdimando
