Professor retires over ‘slave’ comment Learning Process

Professor retires over ‘slave’ comment

Written on February 23, 2011 – 9:52 am | by Christopher Tulloch

Mark Wattier, a political science professor at Murray State University in Kentucky, announced his retirement today after telling a tardy black student that slaves never showed up on time.

Wattier, who had been suspended without pay, will retire March 1, according to the UPI.

News reports say that in August, freshman Arlene Monae Johnson showed up on time for a class and a film was already playing. After class, Johnson and another student asked Wattier why the film started ahead of schedule.

Well, its OK, I expect it of you guys anyway, Wattier told her, Johnson claimed in an interview with the Murray Ledger & Times. We asked him, What did that mean? And he said the slaves never showed up on time, so their owners often lashed them for it. He just didnt have the right.

According to theGrio, Johnson complained and Wattier was suspended without pay. He appealed the decision and submitted a doctors note saying he was depressed and suicidal.

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