TSU Fires Professor For Controversial Video Berating Student

Image Credit: TSU_Alumni East TN / Twitter & hoomoooShoo / Twitter

The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –

A Tennessee State University professor has been fired after a controversial video of him was made public. 

TSU made a statement Tuesday afternoon that it chose to fire now-former professor Robert Evins Pickard. He can be seen yelling in a student’s face. Pickard can be heard yelling, “What is your name? Out! Get out! You have failed this course, whatever your name is.” 

A statement was released by TSU regarding Pickard’s termination: 

“The University is aware of the incident identified in the video clip being distributed in the media, including on social media. TSU does not tolerate unprofessional behavior in its classrooms or otherwise directed at students. The University is committed to providing a healthy and positive academic environment for all students. This incident runs afoul of the standard of behavior we expect from those charged with teaching and serving as role models for our students. The University has taken swift action, including personnel action, to address this incident and the faculty member shown in the video was immediately removed from the classroom and has been terminated.”

Students said this is not the first time Pickard has yelled at students like this, but this is the first time TSU was forced to address the situation. The student who posted the video said Pickard talks to his students like that frequently. 

The now-former TSU professor Robert Evins Pickard says he is now “retired” since offering his resignation to TSU.  Pickard released the following statement:

“I deeply regret what happened in class. I lost my temper and did something I should never have done,” Pickard said in a statement. “I have been under pressure lately, and I have been frustrated with students who pay attention to their cellphones and laptops, then wonder why they get low grades. But that does not excuse my behavior. I apologized to the students and offered my resignation. I am now retired, as I had planned anyway. Please respect my privacy, it is over now.”

About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative  ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others.  He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History.  Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com