Kansas teacher who used racial slur in class fired

LAWRENCE, Kan. — A white University of Kansas assistant professor who used a racial slur during a class discussion on race said the school will not have her contract renewed after the next academic year.

Andrea Quenette, an assistant professor of communication studies, told The Lawrence Journal-World (http://bit.ly/1OTQZ8c ) on Monday that the university told her last week that she wouldn't be reappointed to her position at the end of the spring 2017 semester. She will be placed on paid leave while administrators investigate claims of discrimination.

Some graduate students complained about Quenette after she used the racial slur in November, a day after the university held a contentious forum on race and discrimination.

An open letter calling for Quenette’s termination explains that a student in her COMS 930 class asked how to handle race and discrimination on campus.

Quenette admitted she was not well equipped to answer the question, but said, “As a white woman, I just have never seen the racism. It’s not like I see ‘[the n-word]’ spray-painted on the walls.”

The open letter also exposes Quenette for other indecencies, saying, "Dr. Quenette has made it a habit to disparage the reputations of veteran GTAs in the Communication Studies department by naming them and mocking their classroom policies and procedures, and disclosing private information regarding research projects involving other GTAs [graduate teaching assistants].

"Dr. Quenette exposed information about the personal location of a former GTA in the midst of a domestic violence situation. Dr. Quenette breached FERPA regulations by showing the midterm grades of previous students during the new GTA orientation."

Quenette, in turn, prepared a statement to apologize. According to The Lawrence Journal-World, the students said, “No, this is over,” got up, and left.

The letter finally reads, “Do not allow the guise of free speech to be invoked and crowd out our demand.”

A school review concluded in mid-March that Quenette didn't violate the university's nondiscrimination or racial and ethnic harassment policies.

A university spokesman wouldn't confirm or deny Quenette's employment situation, saying it is a 'personnel matter.'

SARA RITSCH and THE ASSOCIATED PRESS contributed to this report.

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The Gayly - 5/24/2016 @ 10:52 a.m. CDT