Instructor Exonerated By Probe Committee On Her Use Of 'Racist N-Word' In Class

Andrea Quenette, an assistant professor at the University of Kansas, was asked to be fired by students, as she had used the "n-word" in class on November 15.

When grad student Abigail Kingsford asked her "In light of last night's university-wide town hall meeting about race and discrimination on campus, what is the best approach to talk about that event and these issues with our students?" Quenette had replied that "as a white woman" she had never "seen the racism" and added: "it's not like I see 'n****r' spray painted on walls..."

There had been a protest at the University of Kansas over what was seen to be "a perceived lack of support for minority students" as well as "institutional tolerance for racism."

The infuriated students wrote an open letter on Medium  that she had made remarks that seemed to be "even more disparaging" and that "they articulated not only her lack of awareness of racial discrimination and violence on this campus and elsewhere but an active denial of institutional, structural, and individual racism."

They also coloured their account by pointing out that she had a "history of discriminatory behaviour." By quoting the school's policies, they added that she "should be terminated."

The university's Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access placed her on administrative leave, forbidding her from entering the school, even as an investigation was undertaken.

But she has got exonerated recently, as the probe committee felt that she did not violate the school's "nondiscrimination policy" or racial and ethnic harassment policies. She will thus be retaining her job.

Quennette said that the investigation was fair. "I believe they did due diligence in taking the students' concerns seriously, and I do appreciate that. I didn't believe I had violated policies ... so I'm glad that the outcome reflected that."

"This word is offensive, but it was used in the context of retelling a factual event that occurred at another campus. It was not used in racial animus."

The students, though, are unhappy. Gabrielle Byrd, a black student, said: "I was incredibly shocked that the word was spoken, regardless of the context. I turned to the classmate sitting next to me and asked if this was really happening. Before I left the classroom, I was in tears."

More can be read here.