by Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse University – Scholarship in Action
Mark Wattier, a professor of Political Science at Murray State University in Kentucky, is in hot water after comparing his black students to slaves. Arlene Johnson, a freshman from Sikestown, Mo says that she arrived to Wattier’s class three to five minutes early and found that there was a film already playing. After class was over, Johnson went to the professor, along with another black student, DeVaunte Martin, to ask him why the film had been started before they arrived.
According the students, Professor Wattier explained to them that class starts 10 minutes early when films are being shown. But the students were confused, since the information is not in the syllabus. Wattier then said "I expect it out of you guys anyway."
The students asked Wattier to clarify his statement, which is when he made the comments that served to truly seal his fate:
I am a graduate of Murray State University. Based on my experience, MSU is a great instituition of higher learning. My professors (who were all white), coached, encouraged, and challenged me to be better and do better. I don’t think that their tenure status makes the professors think they are above the law. My son has just been accepted at MSU under a Alumni Legacy Grant. I hope that this is a isolated incident and that President Dunn will get to the bottom of this soon.
http://themurraystatenews.com/?p=122
He got rehired!!