University of Alabama quietly stopped assigning classes to Jalyn Dantzler, a Women's Studies adjunct professor, after students reported observing classroom bias.
The investigation into Dantzler began following an anonymous tip sent to Robby Starbuck describing comments Dantzler reportedly made in the classroom following Charlie Kirk's death. That post has almost 95,000 views.
"I attend the University of Alabama and I’m a student in a Women’s Studies class taught by Jalyn Dantzler. Today she made remarks that were very troubling. She stated that she has no remorse for Charlie Kirk’s family since Malcolm X was shot in the head and killed in front of his kids. She stated she wasn't going to mourn over his assassination like other people," the student wrote.
"She then made several bizarre comments about a 'Gender Unicorn'. This is not relevant to the topics we should be discussing and I want to prevent this classroom political activism from continuing. With all that’s going on in the world right now, I wanted to make you aware of my concern so you can raise the concern to people who can stop it. Please help me and other students so our classrooms aren’t political side shows anymore. Thank you."
Starbuck posted the students’ comments and concerns with a call to action, tagging school president Peter Mohler and asking him to investigate. According to Dantzler, the university did investigate.
Dantzler told the Crimson White that she got a call from the chair of the Department of Gender and Race Studies, Utz McKnight. McKnight told Dantzler that the university's Teaching Academy would observe a class.
The report included student feedback that said Dantzler’s “comments or reactions during the discussions could potentially influence classroom dynamics.”
"I always make it known that I am a blunt teacher. I don’t sugarcoat anything, but this is a cool, fun class, but we are going to be discussing topics that may be sensitive," Dantzler told the Crimson White.
"I don’t mourn for him, but I do pray for his child and his daughter, because that was very disturbing to see,” Dantzler recalled telling her class an account that confirmed the student’s account.
The Crimson White story ended with a quote from Dantzler that reframed the situation to make her out to be a victim, a sentiment shared by her father in an online post.
“I’m just taking a break from academia currently, because there’s not enough accountability and not enough to protect the students and the teachers from the students who feel like they can attack someone just because they disagree,” Dantzler said, seemingly unaware of the irony that her classroom tactics led to students feeling as though they couldn’t participate.
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