Western Reader
A professor at the University of Kansas, Phillip Lowcock, has stirred controversy with his recent statement suggesting that men who refuse to vote for a female president should be “lined up and shot.” These comments, captured on video during a lecture, quickly gained traction on social media, sparking strong criticism from various groups including students, politicians, and university officials.
Lowcock, a faculty member in the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, expressed frustration with men who doubt the capabilities of women to hold the presidential office. In the video, he can be heard saying, “We can line up all those guys and shoot ’em; they clearly don’t understand how the world works.” Although he attempted to retract the statement by saying, “Scratch that from the recording,” the video had already circulated widely online.
🚨BREAKING:
The University of Kansas has replied to the viral video of a professor calling for men that won’t vote for a woman president to be SH0T:
“Hi, thank you for your message. The University is aware of a video recorded during a class earlier this semester. The… pic.com/UdnpLzpOjb
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) October 9, 2024
These remarks, seemingly targeting men who do not support Democratic candidate Kamala Harris for the 2024 presidential race, elicited strong reactions. U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) condemned Lowcock’s comments, labeling them as disturbing and calling for the professor’s immediate dismissal.
Conservative organizations like Turning Point USA also criticized Lowcock’s statements, prompting the university to take action. Not only students but also alumni, such as Alex Dwyer, denounced the professor’s words as unpatriotic and hazardous, fueling the online debate.
POV: You’re a Republican at the University of Kansas. pic.com/tAWliRSNud
— Alex Dwyer (@AlexDwyerKS) October 9, 2024
In response, the University of Kansas placed Lowcock on administrative leave while an investigation is conducted. The university emphasized its disapproval of the instructor’s comments and took steps to address the issue by removing Lowcock’s profile from their athletics website and canceling his class.
This incident is not an isolated case at the University of Kansas, which has witnessed previous politically charged controversies. The institution faced backlash in 2019 for offering a course titled “Angry White Males,” criticized by conservative media. Moreover, in 2013, another professor from the university made headlines by linking the National Rifle Association (NRA) to a mass shooting, heightening concerns about the campus’s political environment.
Many fear that such inflammatory remarks from educators could incite violence in a polarized society. Senator Marshall highlighted the potential danger, urging preventive measures by the university to avert similar incidents in the future.
As discussions unfold, the broader dialogue on free speech, academic freedom, and responsible communication in academic institutions gains significance. While some defend Lowcock’s right to express frustration over gender bias, others argue that advocating violence, even in jest, has no place in academia, particularly in today’s politically charged climate.
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