This archive report was first published on 5 June 2020.
Published on June 5, 2020, the University of Central Florida is taking a closer look at Professor Charles Negy's recent Twitter posts, which have sparked controversy.
According to the university, being actively anti-racist means calling out and confronting racist comments. However, Professor Negy's remarks are seen as counter to UCF's values.
With over 69,000 students enrolled, the University of Central Florida is a prominent institution in the state. Professor Negy, 60, has been a part of the university since 2001, when he was granted tenure.
His book, which argues that white Americans and white culture are frequently under siege for various transgressions, has been the subject of discussion. Professor Negy has defended his remarks, stating that he has never said anything critical of George Floyd.
“Despite what so many ‘haters’ are saying about me on Twitter, I’ve never said ANYTHING critical of George Floyd,” Dr. Negy said in an email. “The man was murdered in cold blood by a man who was a total sadist. So cruel.”
Professor Negy added that while he was not a white supremacist or racist, he was critical of all ethnic and cultural groups. He believes that in his classes, they critically look at various groups, including whites, and that there is no way he can be brutally honest about each racial/cultural group without offending someone.
Michael Johnson, the interim provost, explained that tenured faculty members at the public university can generally be removed only for incompetence or misconduct, which would have to be proved through a careful investigation.
