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| Arlene Johnson |
Did you hear the news? Depression is now an excuse for being a racist pig! Who woulda thunk it?? I mean damn, I know depression brings out the inner bitch in me, but it has never turned me into a rabid racist! Yup, clinical depression is the excuse Murray State University Professor Mark Wattier is using for the racist remarks he made to student Arlene Johnson last semester.
Freshman Arlene Johnson said even though she was early for professor Mark Wattier's class last semester, a film was already playing and class was well under way.She asked him why. His alleged answer?Ok, I have got a question.... is this Professor claiming he made the racist remarks due to his depression, or is he simply depressed because he doesn't "have that right" to lash his Black student for being ON TIME to class??
"I always start my films 10 to 15 minutes before class," Johnson says.
Johnson said that was not in the syllabus, so she was not aware.She said it was what Wattier said next that astounded her.
"Then he said, 'That's okay. I'd expect it from you guys."
She asked what he meant by that. He allegedly said "Slaves never showed up on time for their owners and were often lashed for it. I just don't have that right."
Johnson said she couldn't get that statement out of her head.
"After that, I felt really unwelcomed for a while," she said.
So she filed a complaint with the university, a complaint that led to Wattier's suspension without pay and benefits this semester.Wattier has fired back, appealing his suspension and saying the university violated due process, He included a letter from his doctor stating he met the criteria for depression, including contemplating his own death.
Arlene said she doesn't know exactly what was going on inside of her professor that day. She just wishes he would have kept it to himself. She said she wants an apology from the professor in person. Source
