UCLA Professor Suspended After Refusing To Mark Black Students Leniently Due to George Floyd’s Death

A professor at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) has been suspended and placed under police protection after he rejected appeals for him to be lenient with black students and grade them differently due to the “trauma” associated with George Floyd’s death and the subsequent protests.

Gordon Klein, an accounting professor in the Anderson School of Business at UCLA, where he has been teaching for 39 years, was suspended by the university for three weeks starting June 25.

Responding to the request to “give black students special treatment, given the tragedy in Minnesota”, Professor Kelein said “Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the “color of their skin.”

The Malibu Police Department reportedly has an increased police presence outside Klein’s home after multiple threats, which were made after a student, Emilia Martinez, posted an email exchange online.

A petition accusing Klein of being “racist” and demanding his dismissal has gained more 20,000 signatures.

The petition seeks Klein’s firing as a result of his ‘extremely insensitive, dismissive, and woefully racist response to his students’ request for empathy and compassion during a time of civil unrest.‘

DailyMail reports: The story began when a group of students, who described themselves as ‘non-black allies‘ of their black peers, wrote to Klein asking for him to effectively cancel the final exams for black students.

They requested a ‘no-harm‘ final exam that could only benefit students’ grades, and for shortened exams and extended deadlines for final assignments and projects.

The students wrote that, in light of recent ‘traumas, we have been placed in a position where we much choose between actively supporting our black classmates or focusing on finishing up our spring quarter’.

They continued: ‘We believe that remaining neutral in times of injustice brings power to the oppressor and therefore staying silent is not an option.‘

They wrote, according to Inside Higher Education, that theirs was ‘not a joint effort to get finals canceled for non-black students, but rather an ask that you exercise compassion and leniency with black students in our major’.

Klein wrote back and declined their request, composing an email that some students felt was mocking them.

‘Thanks for your suggestion in your email below that I give black students special treatment, given the tragedy in Minnesota,’ he wrote. 

‘Do you know the names of the classmates that are black? How can I identify them since we’ve been having online classes only? 

‘Are there any students that may be of mixed parentage, such as half black-half Asian? What do you suggest I do with respect to them? A full concession or just half?’

Klein asked the students whether any of them – black or otherwise – were from Minneapolis, where George Floyd was killed by police on May 25, sparking a wave of protests.

‘I assume that they probably are especially devastated as well,’ he wrote. 

‘I am thinking that a white student from there might be possibly even more devastated by this, especially because some might think that they’re racist even if they are not. 

‘My TA (teaching assistant) is from Minneapolis, so if you don’t know, I can probably ask her.‘ 

Klein asked how he was expected to implement the ‘no-harm’ exam, given the course was solely graded on the final exam.

And he ended with a quote from Martin Luther King.

‘One last thing strikes me: Remember that MLK famously said that people should not be evaluated based on the “color of their skin,”‘ he wrote. 

‘Do you think that your request would run afoul of MLK’s admonition? Thanks, G. Klein.’  

• About
• Latest Posts

Baxter Dmitry

Baxter Dmitry is a writer at The People's Voice. He covers politics, business and entertainment. Speaking truth to power since he learned to talk, Baxter has travelled in over 80 countries and won arguments in every single one. Live without fear.
Email: baxter@thepeoplesvoice.tv

Latest posts by Baxter Dmitry (see all)

• George Clooney Says It’s Time To Force-Jab Every Unvaccinated Person In America - April 16, 2024
• Department of Defense Commander’s Wife Caught Naked in Car With School Boy at 3am - April 16, 2024
• ‘Conspiracy Theory’ No More: FBI Launches Criminal Probe Into Baltimore Bridge Collapse - April 16, 2024