A University of Kansas professor has been placed on administrative leave after provocative comments made in a classroom.
In a video posted on social media, Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences lecturer Dr. Phil Lowcock can be heard talking about how some men might approach the November election. In the video, Lowcock said that some men might refuse to vote for a female presidential candidate because they don’t think women are smart enough to be president, then he added that those men should be lined up and shot.
The university issued a statement:
The University is aware of a classroom video in which an instructor made an inappropriate reference to violence. The instructor is being placed on administrative leave, pending further investigation. The instructor offers his sincerest apologies and deeply regrets the situation. His intent was to emphasize his advocacy for women’s rights and equality and he recognizes he did a very poor job of doing so. The university has an established process for situations like this and will follow that process.
News of the professor’s comments brought a strong reaction from Kansas Republican Party leaders and from elected officials.
Kansas Senator Jerry Moran issued a response on social media:
This is disturbing and inappropriate. There should never be a call for violence anytime or anywhere in the classroom. We must cool down the political rhetoric and be respectful and civil to each other, & that is especially true for someone charged with teaching our young people.
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall is calling for the professor to be fired.
