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    • MSU professor calls Trump supporters “naive” in email to students
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    MSU professor calls Trump supporters “naive” in email to students

    Online Niel Posted on

    EAST LANSING — A group of conservative students at Michigan State University has urged the university to discipline a professor who called supporters of President-elect Donald Trump “naive” and argued that the tens of millions who voted for him are supporters of ” misogyny, racism, xenophobia, hatred. and violence”.

    MSU’s chapter of Turning Point USA said psychology professor Alexa Veenema’s post-election email to her student violated university policies that are outlined in the MSU Faculty Handbook.

    No disciplinary action has been taken against Veenema, who is a full professor, said Emily Guerrant, MSU’s vice president of communications. The probate had conversations with Veenema and the head of the psychology department, she added.

    “This is more of a learning opportunity,” Guerrant said. “And how we would have preferred the situation to be handled.”

    Alex Bitzan, president of the MSU chapter of Turning Point USA, said Veenem violated policies in the MSU Faculty Handbook.

    Specifically, he cited three policies: “The University expects its faculty members to engage with others in a professional manner, with civility and respect;” “to refrain from introducing matters that are not consistent with their teaching duties and their professional competence and that do not have any significant importance. which relates to the subject matter of the approved course under university procedures;” and “The responsibility to carefully differentiate their official activities as faculty members from their personal activities as citizens and, when the situation warrants, to state that when speaking as citizens private, they do not speak for the University”.

    Bitzan said he has begun the process of filing a formal complaint against the teacher.

    Veenema also gave bonus points to students who were able to attend classes after the election, noting that they are “in no mood to learn anything”.

    A message was left for Veenema on Friday.

    The full email says:

    “Dear students,

    “You must be as devastated as I am. And you probably feel overwhelming pain. And maybe you’re stuck in the first phase of pain, of denial. Or you may feel the first 4 stages of pain all at once. I am there with Our future will not show in our lives until now. It is unbelievable to me that so many Americans are so naive and would support misogyny. racism, xenophobia, hatred and violence.

    “It will be very important to look after each other, support each other and seek support. Sharing your feelings with others and going through it together will help and reduce your anxiety.

    “That’s why I’ll try to be there for you today. Today’s lecture may be shorter and I understand you are not in a learning mood. But I would like to encourage you to still attend today’s lecture. Anyone who participates will receive free bonus points for questions from the TopHat class.

    “I hope to see you in class today!

    “Alexa Veenema”

    It is unclear whether Veenema had conversations with her students about the election before sending the email. The email was only sent to her class and screenshots of the letter were shared on Instagram.

    Bitzan said he has not been able to find an original copy of the email, nor has he spoken to any of the students to whom Veenema sent it.

    A screenshot of the email Veenema sent to students was shared with the State Journal by Guerrant, though it is not dated.

    Guerrant said other professors have had conversations with students after the election and that the university does not discourage those discussions. Guerrant said professors are expected to always follow the code of ethics, but there was no specific format the university administration required professors to follow when addressing political or sensitive topics.

    MSU tenured professors, like others at many universities, have special freedoms when it comes to their work and how they present themselves to their students. The MSU Faculty Handbook states’ mandate allows “scholars the freedom to explore and express their work in ways that might be antithetical to present knowledge.”

    Contact Sarah Atwood at [email protected]. Follow X @sarahmatwood

    Online Niel
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