Image Credit: University of Tennessee & social media screenshots
By Simon Olech – Franciscan University of Steubenville – The College Fix –
An assistant professor of cultural anthropology at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville who faces termination after posting extreme commentary over the assassination of conservative Charlie Kirk has apologized and seeks for her potential termination to be rescinded.
Tamar Shirinian was placed on administrative leave and termination proceedings were launched after posting controversial comments regarding the assassination of Kirk, which went viral.
“The world is better off without him in it,” the professor had stated in part, adding “his kids are better off living in a world without a disgusting psychopath like him and his wife, well, she’s a sick f*** for marrying him so I dont [sic] care about her feelings.”
The former assistant professor was notified of her pending termination in mid-September.
“The university has taken swift action against a faculty member who has failed to meet our expectations for civil engagement,” according to a university statement. “Her actions endorsing violence and murder do not represent the university or our values. The faculty member is out of the classroom, placed on administrative leave, and termination proceedings have begun.”
The scholar has since penned an appeal letter to University Chancellor Donde Plowman to reconsider the decision. In the letter, Shirinian apologized for her post, calling it “ineloquent and heartless.”
She added that “it was insensitive and, I assure you, uncharacteristic of me as a person, a mother, a friend, and someone who advocates for social justice and respect for all. And, for that, I apologize. These were words, written out of anger and grief, which now haunt me.”
Shirinian also stated that “I have been a long-time advocate for peace, as I see peace and civility as the only means to the making and sustaining of a world where everybody’s rights and safety will be protected,” despite previously expressing approval of a political figure’s public murder.
She blamed her comments on Charlie Kirk due to his positions on the war in Gaza, DEI, and the LGBTQ+ community. Shirinian said her identity as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and “a person who prides themselves on their humanity” made Kirk’s commentary difficult to bear.
As a professor at the University of Tennessee, she taught a variety of classes, including Queer Anthropology, Feminist Anthropology, Decolonization, and Ethnographies of Trauma, her faculty bio states. Her “Scholarly & Creative Works” include “The Gender and Sexuality of Armenia,” “Objects of Struggle: Woman, Environment, Colonialism,” and “A Queer Plea for the End of the Nation.”
“The Gender and Sexuality of Armenia” was the “the first academic event in the United States that places Armenian studies in direct conversation with gender and sexuality studies.” The journal article, published in the Duke University Press, includes a provocative cover with female genitalia.
In “A Queer Plea for the End of the Nation,” the scholar frames herself “as a queer scholar deeply invested in the social, political, and economic potentials of reimagining the world” and advocates for a postnational future.
The article’s biography tells readers she specializes “in queer theory, transnational feminisms, political economy, postsocialism, psychoanalysis, and medical and psychological anthropology.” The attached profile page from UTK is no longer active.
The College Fix contacted both Professor Shirinian as well as the University of Tennessee System for comment and has yet to receive a reply.
Shirinian’s comments mirror other college professors’ responses to Charlie Kirk’s assassination, including teachers at George Washington University and Southern University.
***This article reprinted here by express permission from The College Fix.
7 Responses
She isn’t sorry. She said exactly what was in her heart. She’s a liberal queer. That is all. Get her away from the young adults in Knoxville. Why in the world are they allowing this stuff to be taught in the first place?
We have several generations that have been indoctrinated in this hatred, it’s a scary thing to see all these young people that can’t make up their own minds, all they can spew is their learned hatred from the liberal professors.
She’s only sorry she got called on it and found out there can be consequences. Hope the powers don’t do what they usually do and give in.
You hit the nail on the head, as long as they give in, nothing is gained, until these haters start getting removed for their unwanted behaviors, there will be no positive results. Being too soft on these haters is wrong, we have to stop the hate, NOW!
It’s sad that schools would stoop to hiring people like that. Students don’t need this kind of hatred crammed down their throats, they need to learn to think for themselves and make up their own minds, not be indoctrinated in hate and carry that forward. All schools should be removing these hate-mongers from their rosters.
“Education” is terminally infested with lucifer’s accursed dimmercraps like her. This is the TRASH folks are sending their kids to learn how to be. She’s WAAY worse’n useless as are the “courses” she “teaches”.
Get this communist indoctrinator our of our school! When they tell you who they are, believe it and remove them. She/it is the reason so many kids are graduating from schools having their parents, themselves, their country, and their God. Take a good look at this person: look at her eyes and you see her soul. She is a flippant derelict soulless individual who is forcing her own politics and skewed views on children who pay a lot of tuition for what is supposed to be “higher” education. Everyone should converge on the Board. Stop this destruction of the education system.