There are new calls for the termination of incoming Boston University sociology professor Saida Grundy after disclosure that she has a criminal record from Michigan. Grundy has become the best known academic at BU before even starting her academic career at the institution . . . for all the worst reasons. However, at the risk of being called an apologist, I again believe that this is not grounds for termination and that BU should allow Grundy to assume her teaching post.
The first calls for her termination came after it was disclosed that Grundy used Twitter to denounce white men as the central problem population at universities and described how she tries not to do business with white people. After an outcry from alumni, Boston University president Robert Brown expressed “disappointment” with her statements and Grundy herself apologized for what she called “indelicate” wording. New calls were heard after it came out that Grundy attacked a white woman and rape victim on Facebook who expressed her personal feelings over an article criticizing actress Patricia Arquette for her call at the Oscars for equal pay for women.
On both occasions, I wrote that I would have had great reservations about hiring Grundy on a faculty but that, as a current professor, she should be afforded the protection of free speech in making controversial and even racist comments. These controversies highlight a long-standing debate that we have had over the increasing trend toward firing people for their speech on social media and associations in their private lives. This can range from teachers posting vacation pictures to obnoxious employees engaged in sexist or offensive comments.
In this case, you have an actual crime but it was presumably disclosed (if it was not, that would clearly be grounds for termination). In 2008, Grundy admitted that she used multiple pictures of another woman to create a fake account on an adult website in a jealous rage over the woman dating a former boyfriend of Grundy. She was a graduate student at the University of Michigan at the time. Grundy was charged with felony counts of identity theft and using computers to commit a crime as well as a misdemeanor count of malicious use of a telecommunications service.
She eventually pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor count in exchange for the dismissal of the felonies and given probation until June 2009.
Frankly, I was a bit surprised that the severity of the charges in a case of an obvious jealous rage. This was not done for financial or pecuniary benefit. It was stupid and was legitimately reported to the police. The sounds like the type of count stacking that prosecution engage in to force people to plead, though there was probably little need for coercion in this case. It remains a simple misdemeanor committed years ago. As long as it was disclosed, I would not view that crime as a barrier to employment.
None of this changes my view that BU is legitimately under scrutiny for the original hiring decision of someone who has such obvious anger issues and holds what appear racist and sexist views. If those issues were not raised during the hiring process, the question is whether there was an adequate review of Grundy and her history. I would have a great number of questions for someone who holds such views that relate directly to her scholarship and intellectual approach. However, she was hired and I have greater concerns over the disciplining of academics for expressing unpopular views in their academic writings or public commentary.
As I discussed before, there is a contrast in this approach with the rising number of terminations of non-academic employees for public conduct or social media postings. However, in addition to raising concerns about some of those cases, there is the added element of academic freedom that runs to the core of our profession. Academics are given tenure and protections precisely to allow them to challenge conventional thinking or social mores. That sometimes mean that we protect low-grade lows like those of Professor Grundy and others. However, the alternative is a slippery slope of speech regulation for academics that endangers the entire academic enterprise in my view. This issue of speech limitations have become a rising concern on campuses across the country. I would hope that Professor Grundy would be the first to come to the defense of an academic who uses the same freedom to criticize African-Americans as she has criticized whites as in the case of the Duke professor. Indeed, that is one academic paper that I would be eager to read from Professor Grundy once she starts at Boston University in July.
What do you think?
Nobody should be fired over free speech, especially at a university. She can be let go when her contract expires, or discussions can be made that they prefer to dissolve her contract if she can find another position somewhere else. Her notoriety over this probably will lead to a lot of offers from black civil rights organizations.
The Professor would like to see a schmuck selling expensive hot dogs jailed, but thinks hiring a hateful felon as a fellow professor is no big deal. Got it.
I forgot what subject she is hired to teach. We are competing with China in math and science and that school competes with some schools in football and other sports. If she is in PE then what the heck it doesn’t matter. If she is in some other non relevant subject which American colleges teach then same response. But if she teaches math or science then we have to reconsider having an incompetent person on staff. By “incompetent” I mean not competent by reason of mental deficiencies. If you impersonate someone you are a wacko and if you go off on other people for phony racist reasons then you are a wacko incompetent by bigoted means. Yes, an African American person can be a bigot. It takes two to tango.
This woman is an absolute nut. If BU knew all this and still hired her, I’d have to seriously question their judgment.
Oh lord. What next? I certainly wouldn’t take any of her classes. She does seem unstable enough to grade unfairly based on her emotional swings of the day, not even speaking of her biases.
Steve L
Clearly BU made a mistake (likely many mistakes) while vetting this woman, which has become apparent since the hire was made.
I’m not sure why you think this. She seems exactly the kind of person they were looking for.
Rick – 98% of Harvard professors contributed to the Democratic party or causes. Given that they were looking for an African-American Studies person, exactly what do you think were the parameters for the job? 😉
A new study shows that over half of Democrats wish to make this “hate speech” and criminalize it. Only 35% of Republicans wish to do the same. So, Grundy would be “hung” by the very party she votes with.
Untrue. The “very party she votes with” would defines hate speech as only speech critical of them or their constituent groups just as they define racism.
Rick – there is some movement in the LGBT movement to make hate speech the next issue after same sex marriage.
Really, allow her to assume her career at BU? It appears you liberals have no limits to the extent you’ll go to insure that Colleges and Univ. continue as the festering open sore that are destroying our America’s values.
Francie, good call.
I think Ms. Grundy has what used to be termed Histrionic Personality Disorder and now is Cluster B PD. the uproar will continue. University of Boston should run the other way as fast as they can.
I think you’re missing the point, Turley. This isn’t some established faculty member, it’s an incoming professor, and one who clearly isn’t fit to be teaching students. Clearly BU made a mistake (likely many mistakes) while vetting this woman, which has become apparent since the hire was made. The real issue is this woman is too emotionally unstable (and perhaps mentally unstable) to be a college professor, and that doesn’t change if you cloak this as a Freedom of Speech issue.
I hear there’s an opening at Marquette.
She’d be perfect.
If she walks like a ….. perhaps she has an argument. If she talks like a ….. perhaps she is protected by this or that right. If she starts to smell like a ….. then perhaps she is not fit to be in the position. She could start a church, run for local politics, soapbox?k
Felony identity theft is not a big deal?
Grundy was charged with felony counts of identity theft and using computers to commit a crime as well as a misdemeanor count of malicious use of a telecommunications service.
Its Memorial Day weekend. I’m trying out baby back ribs in a special barbecue sauce as a distraction to world problems.
“I would hope that Professor Grundy would be the first to come to the defense of an academic who uses the same freedom to criticize African-Americans”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Paul,
He’s old and likely reaching a level of mental incapacitation that will render him unsuitable for the job. But until someone runs against him and beats him, he’s right.
Bailers – he has a huge war chest and although his numbers are low with Republicans, he can get enough Democratic votes to get elected. There has been some talk of primaring him.
Impressive Paul. And his pal Ms. LindseyGraham must believe (s)he’s the only one qualified to be President. These people have an incredible view of their own self worth but then again we live in ‘selfie’ times.
There was a time not long ago when a persons character was most important. Are we that desperate to demonstrate how civilized we are that we trump poor character with credentials…went to the right school, are the right sex, have the right color skin, support the right cause. We have 330 million people in this country and we are being told this is THE only qualified candidate for the job?
Olly – John McCain thinks he is the only person qualified to be elected Senator from Arizona. What can we say?
A new study shows that over half of Democrats wish to make this “hate speech” and criminalize it. Only 35% of Republicans wish to do the same. So, Grundy would be “hung” by the very party she votes with. I thing there is a difference between hate speech and what you get fired for. Being racist is one of the things you should get fired for.
I think the university was ticking a box when they hired Grundy and the research into her background was not deep. The longer BU stands behind her, the messier it gets. At some point the alum are going to have to get into this
Normally I would agree that viewpoints, however offensive, should not be grounds for termination. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that this woman is not fit for an education setting. Posting the information to an adult website could lead to some actual harm to the innocent person, and will likely last for years to come.
Grundy has no business being an instructor in any subject, least of all in a department that already is pre-disposed to be controversial.
“I would hope that Professor Grundy would be the first to come to the defense of an academic who uses the same freedom to criticize African-Americans as she has criticized whites as in the case of the Duke professor. ”
Please don’t hold your breath Professor Turley for her rousing free speech defense. It would sadden me greatly to hear you ended up in the hospital.