Drake professor Beth Younger published a statement in the university’s newspaper on Feb. 3.
Younger said that she understands some of the comments have been upsetting to students and others.
“I deeply regret the harm this has caused the Drake community,” she said. “I am totally committed to open and fair dialogue on our campus and in my classroom; and my students would tell you this.”
She said her teaching record attests to her creating an environment that is safe for liberals and conservatives, despite her public social media posts that told anyone reading it she hates Republicans and they all must suffer.
Younger said her political views have nothing to do with who she is an educator.
She notes that some of the comments were upsetting to conservative students, which is sad because they should be upsetting to conservatives, moderates and liberals alike.
And in the very last paragraph, Younger follows the liberal playbook in a display of incredible chutzpah.
“These students did not contact me or reach out to ask questions — their targeted harassment is a common tactic used by Turning Point USA to harass ‘liberal’ educators and create conflict,” Younger said. “While I do regret the harm this has caused, I think the students involved are misguided.”
Here is Younger’s full statement:
Recently some of the comments I have made on Twitter were copied and publicized without my knowledge. I understand that some of these comments have been upsetting to students and others. I deeply regret the harm this has caused the Drake community. I am totally committed to open and fair dialogue on our campus and in my classroom; and my students would tell you this. My teaching record would also attest to my creating an environment that is safe for liberals and conservatives, and everyone in-between.
I will also assert that my personal political views are just that. They have nothing to do with me as an educator. While I do understand that some of the comments were upsetting to conservative students, I assert that Drake is (as a community) committed to open dialogue among students. The students that publicized my comments have not been in my classes; nor do they know me personally. The conflation between my political comments and my pedagogy is false. I treat each of my students with respect, and my teaching record reveals that.
These students did not contact me or reach out to ask questions–their targeted harassment is a common tactic used by Turning Point USA to harass “liberal” educators and create conflict. While I do regret the harm this has caused, I think the students involved are misguided.
