Image Credit: East Tennessee State University / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Two East Tennessee State University (ETSU) tenured professors have both chosen retirement rather than be fired over callous remarks they made following Charlie Kirk’s assassination last month.
The pair were quickly placed on administrative leave by President Brian Noland after complaints came in about their comments that were made on social media.
Communication Studies and Storytelling Professor Andrew Herrmann chose to retire, while Biomedical Sciences Professor Russell Brown was on track to be fired by the university.
One of the professors allegedly wrote, “This isn’t a tragedy. It’s a victory,” while the other stated, “you reap what you sow.”
Calling the messages “deeply troubling and concerning,” Noland suspended them both after reviewing university policy and ETSU’s faculty handbook in order to conduct a review of their actions.
While ETSU does not have a social media policy in place for employees, there is a code of conduct and the university decided to begin the process of terminating Brown for “adequate cause.”
Because both professors were tenured, the process of being terminated would have entailed multiple steps. At first, Brown chose to contest the university’s actions but later decided he too would retire effective Monday.
Brown, a behavioral neuroscientist, had been on staff at ETSU since 2000 where he taught and also conducted research.
Professors across the state have found themselves in hot water over their ill timed and heartless words.
Tamar Shirinian, an assistant professor in the Anthropology department at UT Knoxville, was terminated following Facebook comments about Kirk’s killing. Before the termination, the university placed her on administrative leave after her remarks citing failure to meet civil engagement standards.
Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Assistant Dean of Students Laura Sosh-Lightsy was promptly fired after saying that Kirk “spoke his fate into existence” and that she had “ZERO sympathy” for him on Facebook.
Cumberland University (CU) also let go two employees, one a faculty member, following public outcry.
Theatre Professor Darren Michael was likewise dismissed by Austin Peay State University (APSU) for resharing an insensitive social media post. However, APSU may have jumped the gun prematurely as they are now saying that Michael is suspended and proceedings to terminate his tenure for adequate cause have been initiated instead.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
2 Responses
When the one professor wrote, “You reap what you sow,” I’m sure he was referring to this statement made …. by Charlie Kirk …. on April 5, 2023: “I think it’s worth it. I think it’s worth to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights.”
You may be right Mr. Bear, but so is President Noland when he found the comment made after a political assassination to be “deeply troubling and concerning” coming as it did from someone who is supposed to be a role model for students at ETSU. So it’s all good, the professor exercised his freedom to spread his bile, and ETSU has one less leftist extremist on the faculty.