Global Courant 2023-05-23 00:00:21
A professor at a public university in New York appeared to shout down pro-life students before grabbing objects and throwing them into their display, accusing the students of spreading “propaganda” and “triggering” other students.
Hunter College students were manning a table of pro-life literature earlier this month when they were confronted by an angry professor, who yelled swear words at the students before throwing materials off the table, video from the interaction shows.
“You’re not teaching, this is fucking propaganda,” the professor tells the students in a clip posted to Twitter by Students for Life of America. “What are you going to do next as an anti-trans?”
The aggressor in the situation was art professor Shellyne Rodriguez, who works at the school as an adjunct assistant professor, according to a Hunter College spokesperson.
MORE THAN 87 PRO-LIFE CENTERS ATTACKED AFTER ROE V. WADE’S FALL
Pro-life activists attempt to block a pro-choice protester’s sign during the 2018 March for Life in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
According to the spokesperson, the school is aware of the meeting and “takes this matter very seriously”.
“The provost has opened an investigation into the professor’s actions,” the spokesperson told Fox News Digital.
On her website, Rodriguez says she is a “writer and community organizer” who focuses her work on “survival strategies against erasure and subjugation.”
In the viral video of the confrontation with the students, two unidentified individuals appear to be trying to de-escalate the situation, apologizing to Rodriguez while noting that they are just trying to educate people about the matter.
“This is a bull —-, this is violent,” Rodriguez responds. “You trigger my students.”
“I’m sorry,” one of the pro-life students responds.
COMEDIAN JOHN OLIVER LAUNCHES profanity-laced TIRADE AGAINST TEXAS ABORTION LAW
“No you’re not, because you can’t even have a goddamn baby. So you don’t even know what that is. Get this bastard out of here,” the professor said, firing back before trying to push the items off the table. “F— this s—.”
It is not clear whether there was any interaction before the start of the video and what exactly is at the table in the literature.
While the incident went viral on social media and was reported by the College Fix, the professor’s actions were defended by the PSC Graduate Center, a labor organization of graduate and professional schools at the City University of New York.
The group argued that the “Students for Life set up a table and prominent banners to spread dangerously false propaganda”, claiming that such materials are “disinformation” and “should never take root in our university”.
The group subsequently called the professor’s actions “justified.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Hunter College adjunct teacher Shellyne Rodriguez approached the display, delivered constructive criticism to the group members, and eventually physically took items from the table,” the group said. “Her actions to stop registration were fully justified and are part of a long and celebrated CUNY legacy of confronting groups such as military recruiters who spread misleading information.”
They also noted that Rodriguez was questioned about the incident by Hunter College Provost Manoj Pardasani and John Rose, Dean of Diversity and Compliance and Campus Relations, though the outcome of those discussions was unclear.
Meanwhile, Hunter College said the school remains a place that encourages “free speech.”
“Hunter College prides itself on maintaining decorum and respect for all while encouraging free speech,” said the Hunter College spokesperson. “Students can show one side of a political issue, or more than one side. We see our campus as a vibrant marketplace of ideas.”
Michael Lee is a writer at Fox News. Follow him on Twitter @UAMichaelLee
