Towson University Fires Adjunct For Using the N Word

An adjunct teacher at Towson University is talking about being fired over his use of a word he said in the context of a classroom discussion.

Adjunct Art Professor Allen Zaruba admitted he uses a racial slur in a class.

"I used the N-word in reference to myself," Zaruba said.

The student newspaper The Towerlight reports that Zaruba told his students in a Visual Concepts class that he was, "a nigger on the corporate plantation" in a discussion on contemporary art.

Zaruba said that he knew right away that some students would be offended.

The incident occurred on Monday of last week

A student complained to her parents and Zaruba was fired.

This morning, he was asked by WBAL’s Shari Elliker if he felt he was fired for referring to Towson University as a corporate plantation.

"I can see their reason for doing so, but even so I think it is overreacting," Zaruba said.

The newspaper reports that under university policy, adjunct faculty members serve "at the pleasure of the University’s president" and can be fired for "any legal reason."

Zaruba did mention that his step-father was black and he often used the slur to describe himself. Zaruba added that he has heard students refer to themselves with that slur.

Zaruba said on Wednesday of last week he, "apologized to the entire class and then moved on. Then, Thursday night I was called and fired."

University Provost Marcia Welsh issued a statement this afternoon defending the firing.

"By his own admission Allen Zaruba made a poor decision to use a racial slur. Complaints to the Provost’s office revealed that Zaruba’s comments were not part of the academic discussion of his classroom," Welsh wrote.

She called the firing "appropriate" and added that,"such patently offensive language on the part of university employees will not be tolerated and does not reflect our value system."

Zaruba said he is not sure what he will do next professionally.

"Unfortunately this firing has closed the door on working at another state institution, and who knows where else," Zaruba said.

An unscientific, online poll by the student newspaper the Towerlight finds most of those responding believe it was wrong for Zaruba to be fired.

Statement by Towson University Provost Marcia Welsh:

By his own admission Allen Zaruba made a poor decision to use a racial slur. Complaints to the Provost’s office revealed that Zaruba’s comments were not part of the academic discussion of his classroom. With this information, the department chair consulted with the Provost’s Office to determine appropriate action and Zaruba’s part-time employment with the university was to be terminated.

Towson University strongly supports and upholds academic freedom in the classroom and across our learning community; however, such patently offensive language on the part of university employees will not be tolerated and does not reflect our value system.

A new instructor has replaced Zaruba and no classes have been canceled as a result of this incident.