KU professor told student to ‘learn English,’ reports say. He’s suspended from class
An engineering professor at the University of Kansas has been suspended from teaching a class after he reportedly told a student who was using a translator to “learn English,” according to the Lawrence Journal-World.
The professor, Gary Minden, told the Journal-World and the The University Daily Kansan he made the comment recently at the start of class after he saw a student using a translator on their cellphone.
Minden is a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, according to the university’s website.
The course he was teaching at the time of the remark was on embedded systems, The Kansan reported. A syllabus posted online says students are prohibited from using electronic devices during the class.
Since the incident, Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, a university spokeswoman, sent the following statement to The Star: “A number of students have raised concerns about events that occurred in their engineering class. In response to these concerns, the university has assigned a different instructor to teach the course while the matter is reviewed.”
In interviews with the Journal-World and The Kansan on Thursday, Minden acknowledged the complaints.
“Everyone thinks I made a mistake. I did,” Minden told The Kansan. “On the other hand, I don’t feel I should take responsibility for students’ feelings. They each have their own lives. They each bring their own life into the classroom.”
The Star has reached out to Minden for comment.
This story was originally published March 7, 2019 at 6:01 PM.
