Babson College adjunct professor Asheen Phansey did not react well to the news that President Trump had killed General Qassem Soleimani in Iraq.
He took to Facebook and posted the following:
“In retaliation, Ayatollah Khomenei should tweet a list of 52 sites of beloved American cultural heritage that he would bomb. Um… Mall of America? …Kardashian residence?”
Babson College officials were not amused. They put him on administrative leave while they investigated the situation.
Here is their statement:
“Babson College conducted a prompt and thorough investigation related to a post shared on a staff member’s personal Facebook page that does not represent the values and culture of the College. Based on the results of the investigation, the staff member is no longer a Babson College employee. As we have previously stated, Babson College condemns any type of threatening words and/or actions condoning violence and/or hate.”
Phansey’s full statement, via CBS-Boston:
“I am disappointed and saddened that Babson has decided to abruptly terminate my 15-year relationship with the college just because people willfully misinterpreted a joke I made to my friends on Facebook. I would have hoped that Babson, an institution of higher education that I love and to which I have given a great deal, would have defended and supported my right to free speech. Beyond my own situation, I am really concerned about what this portends for our ability as Americans to engage in political discourse without presuming the worst about each other.”
I have to admit, I am very surprised.
When it comes to conservatives, wearing a red MAGA hat is hate speech, but wishing people dead if said by a liberal has always been considered free speech.
But Babson moved quickly and cut out the cancer in their faculty.
