The vice president of Michigan State University has been forced to resign after citing a study that found police are not more likely to shoot African-Americans.
According to The College Fix, Professor Stephen Hsu stepped down from his role following pressure from MSU President Samuel Stanley, along with the Graduate Employees Union who launched a campaign to oust him from his position.
The union also accused Hsu of “scientific racism” after he shared content on the genetic differences between ethnic groups. Online petitions were set up and circulated to oust the professor, attracting more than 800 signatures.
“I believe this is what is best for our university to continue our progress forward,” Stanley said in a statement following the announcement. “The exchange of ideas is essential to higher education, and I fully support our faculty and their academic freedom to address the most difficult and controversial issues.”
And here comes the “BUT”:
“But when senior administrators at MSU choose to speak out on any issue, they are viewed as speaking for the university as a whole. Their statements should not leave any room for doubt about their, or our, commitment to the success of faculty, staff and students,” he said.
The graduate union similarly told The Fix that administrators should not share research that runs counter to public statements by the university.
“It is the union’s position that an administrator sharing such views is in opposition to MSU’s statements released supporting the protests and their root cause and aim.”
On his website, Hsu denied the accusations that he is a racist and a sexist, calling the claims entirely false.
“The attacks attempt to depict me as a racist and sexist, using short video clips out of context, and also by misrepresenting the context of some of my blog posts. A cursory inspection reveals ad faith in the presentation.
“The accusations are entirely false — I am neither racist nor sexist,” he added. “The Twitter mobs want to suppress scientific work that they find objectionable. What is really at stake: academic freedom, open discussion of important ideas, scientific inquiry. All are imperilled and all must be defended.”
