University fires professor who blamed Harvey on Trump vote
Source: The Associated Press
The University of Tampa has fired a visiting assistant professor who suggested in a tweet that Hurricane Harvey's destruction is "instant karma" for Texas because it voted Republican.
Sociology professor Kenneth L. Storey posted the tweet and two responses on Sunday before removing the entire thread and his profile photo.
University spokesman Eric Cardenas said in a statement Tuesday that Storey was fired after the school weathered an outpouring of online outrage over the comments.
The Tampa Bay Times reports Storey issued an apology on Monday, writing that he "never meant to wish ill will upon any group.
Read more: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/florida/fl-reg-utampa-fires-professor-20170829-story.html
ffr
(22,676 posts)and while theirs drives vehicles into crowds of us, we're just suppose to be magnanimous and forgiving.
Lazy Daisy
(928 posts)then we should hold the moral high ground.
still_one
(92,492 posts)the SC court, and also when the Democratic convention was in Colorado
wryter2000
(46,125 posts)That's just cruel
sandensea
(21,711 posts)Yes, the Rethugs do this all the time - but Professor Storey isn't helping.
That said, I hope he lands on his feet.
lark
(23,183 posts)Asswipes probably just wanted to get rid of the librul professor anyway and used this as an excuse. Why is it only Repugs who are allowed to be total asshats?
flibbitygiblets
(7,220 posts)Still, I prefer being on "team high moral ground" anytime.
lark
(23,183 posts)I agree with "team high moral ground", would never want to be in any other place.
machoneman
(4,016 posts)n/m
Jose Garcia
(2,611 posts)narnian60
(3,510 posts)blue-wave
(4,372 posts)that professor is wrong! It must be the gays! Oh yeah, the reich wing bible thumpers can blame gay people or anyone else for catastrophies and not a whimper of outrage. Let someone say it was the wingnuts and watch out, your begging for pennies on the street corner.
Orangeutan
(204 posts)leftynyc
(26,060 posts)for what he said. It's also not protecting him/her from the consequences. It was an incredibly stupid thing to say.
LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)It still exists. There is however, no absolute freedom from the consequences of idiotic speech.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,947 posts)And pointing out that fundies like Pat Robertson blame natural disasters on liberals and gays doesn't make this guy's comment any less dumb and thoughtless - that's just more whataboutism. At the same time, I don't think he ought to have been fired for it; a sincere apology would have sufficed, I think.
djg21
(1,803 posts)That virtually all of us have had the same thought and snickered to ourselves about Karma, or about the irony of Texas and Houston seeking billions of dollars in aid from the Federal Government to fund cleanup and recovery.
Jose Garcia
(2,611 posts)djg21
(1,803 posts)That Houston was a blue island in a largely red state that Trump carried by relative large margin. I truly empathize with the residents of Houston affected by the flood. But the majority of Texas still espouses States rights and limited federal government.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)Most people who are damaged by this hurricane didn't vote for Trump.
djg21
(1,803 posts)for Federal funds will be Cruz, and Trump undoubtedly will funnel money to parts of a Texas that supported him. I dont see the urban poor in Houston ever being made whole. And you know that if it were a Blue State that suffered a natural disaster on the same scale, Trump would do nothing.
To be clear, Im not disagreeing at all with you and the level of devastation around Houston is heartbreaking. Well have to see what Trump and FEMA do.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,947 posts)So "karma" really isn't an issue as to Houston.
LisaL
(44,980 posts)hurple
(1,307 posts)However, if the response is not handled competently and people die because of it (see: Katrina), then it's game on!
PoindexterOglethorpe
(25,926 posts)that the weather Gods, assuming they exist, pay much attention to how a city or state votes, or how many gays reside there.
n2doc
(47,953 posts)I've seen this happen several times over the past few months, and adjunct, or lecturer or 'visiting' prof tweets or blogs something stupid, and they get fired immediately. 'Free speech" does not equal 'no consequences from your employer' speech.
Grins
(7,257 posts)'Cuz that always werks. If you are a Republican
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Do they realize how much of a PITA shifting classes around is? This guy would have had anywhere from three to five classes. That means they either had to quickly hire someone else (the semester has already begun), or they distributed the classes among profs who already had a class load. If they found someone new, then that is fairly straightforward, but I imagine they couldn't have found someone in the span of 24 hours. So now those profs who already had their classes set are going to take on extra classes, shift their entire schedules around, and be burdened grading another group of papers and tests. There could very well be profs teaching from 8am till 10pm. But administration doesn't give shit. They just immediately caved to the whiny snowflakes.
neeksgeek
(1,214 posts)And, speaking for myself, as a faculty member who often fills in for others, it can be a real headache. But they'll probably bring in an adjunct or two to take over ASAP.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)That would make sense. It's just incredibly lucky this happened right before Labor Day instead of mid-semester.
Thing is, I teach as an adjunct, and I know that I get priority of scheduling. It's the full profs who get the short end of the stick when they have to take one for the team. I hope they have a competent chair who works well under pressure!
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)He is afraid for his job as well.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,375 posts)This sounds like a tough one.
redstatebluegirl
(12,265 posts)I am thinking of limiting my online activity to just viewing and not commenting.
JustABozoOnThisBus
(23,375 posts)Of course, if "redstatebluegirl" is not your real name, have at it here. Blast away at all things Trumpian.
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)if you want to be sure your job isn't jeopardized. All public statements reflect on an employer, like it or not.
It's risky to be your own name on the internet and post about politics & religion.
not fooled
(5,803 posts)that the well-funded vast right wing conspiracy is much, much better at hunting down and exacting retribution on those of the left who post thoughtless or dumb remarks?
I haven't seen the original thread. Was his comment satiric in intent? A reference poking fun at all of the god-exacting-retribution comments made by ol' Pat et al.? If so, that's not a firing offense. Or shouldn't be. But the reich wing--who has armies of paid operative and trolls to find such comments and latch on to them--is much more effective at getting back at anyone who questions der Fuhrer and his minions.
And American institutions have been cowed into getting rid of anyone who gets brought to their attention because they are terrified of ending up on faux spews.
Remember Shirley Sherrod.
unblock
(52,440 posts)right-wingers can say the most outrageously offensive things and are rewarded with media attention, tv appearances, maybe book deals of even talk of a senate run. hell, in some cases we just hand over the white house!
if a left-winger gets caught up in the fights and says something similar, maybe even virtually the exact same thing a right-winger has said, they get fired, maybe their career is destroyed, forced to apologize, etc.
not saying what he said was appropriate, just saying if he gets fired for this, why doesn't the same thing happen to right-wingers?
Honeycombe8
(37,648 posts)Your online statements reflect on your employer. If you want to state controversial things, have enough smarts to do it anonymously.
elmac
(4,642 posts)don't believe its punishment for the evil trumpsters. I think we all are going to be punished for destroying this planet. As Tyrion Lannister said on GOT, the more immediate problem is that we're fucked.
keithbvadu2
(37,011 posts)Shouldn't be too long until Pat Robertson blames this disaster as God's punishment for rampant homosexuality in Texas?