Texas A&M profs face 'sanctions' after Campus Reform exposes their disturbing comments
Two professors at Texas A&M University are facing disiplinary measures after "serious misconduct" was found.
According to a report, one professor would “hang [President Donald] Trump by [President-elect Joe] Biden’s entrails” in class.
Two professors at Texas A&M University are facing sanctions after “serious misconduct” was revealed following a report by Campus Reform.
Following an investigation into two Texas A&M University professors’ conduct and classroom behavior, launched just days after Campus Reform’s reporting, one professor has reportedly been fired and another disciplined, according to The Eagle.
Campus Reform reported on the social media posts and classroom behavior of anthropology professor Filipe Castro. Castro celebrated the news of Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) contracting COVID-19 and hoped that President Donald Trump and Vice President Pence would contract the virus too, in addition to calling Trump a “fat klansman.”
Campus Reform also reported on Castro’s in-class behavior and course content. According to students and classroom presentations obtained exclusively by Campus Reform, Castro regularly brought his political and religious views into the classroom.
Campus Reform also reported on Texas A&M associate professor of anthropology Michael Alvard’s arrest during a protest in favor of the removal of the statue of a former university president. Alvard was charged with one count of criminal trespassing.
Following Campus Reform’s reporting, the Texas A&M Office of Risk, Ethics, and Compliance opened an investigation into the two professors. According to The Eagle, the university reviewed five years of evaluations and complaints, in addition to conducting interviews with students and professors alike.
Kevin P. McGinnis, Texas A&M Chief Risk, Ethics and Compliance Officer, told Campus Reform, “These were not typical cases. They were prompted by more than one hundred complaints against these professors, some involving misconduct in the classroom. The complaints involving protected First Amendment activities were set aside, and the Office of Risk, Ethics and Compliance was charged with reviewing the classroom misconduct allegations. The investigations confirmed significant misconduct and sanctions have been issued.”
Castro was notified by Texas A&M that his tenure is set to be revoked and he is dismissed from the university, according to The Eagle.
“Former President [Michael K.] Young and Interim President [John] Junkins believe that your conduct in the classroom, as evidenced by the report, is completely unacceptable at Texas A&M University,” the notice to Castro states, according to the report.
The investigation found that Castro would belittle students who disagreed with his religious beliefs or lack thereof. Students alleged that Castro made his political beliefs known in the classroom by saying things such as he “would cut off [former U.S. Attorney General] Jeff Sessions’ head and play soccer with it,” and that he would “hang [President Donald] Trump by [President-elect Joe] Biden’s entrails” for example, The Eagle reported.
Campus Reform could independently confirm these specific allegations.
Some students also reported that Castro made inappropriate comments about gender and sex in the classroom. According to a memorandum from interim provost Mark Weichold to Castro, the professor “made inappropriate, unprofessional and disrespectful comments in the classroom about male and female genitalia.”
Castro was reportedly dismissed from Texas A&M pending a possible appeal. Should Castro decline to file the appeal, his dismissal would be finalized.
Alvard was reportedly notified of disciplinary sanctions following the results of the investigation into his classroom conduct and behavior. In the memo, Alvard was charged with “creat[ing] a negative learning environment for some students that materially affected their ability to participate and learn” and that Alvard “failed to deliver instruction and class materials in an unbiased and respectful manner,” The Eagle reported.
Alvard received a written reprimand that requires the creation of a professional development plan for one year followed by one year of increased supervision. Like Castro, Alvard is also allowed to appeal the university’s decision.
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