Even if there's no good way to lose a job, surely some ways are better than others, right?
We've rounded up what are perhaps the worst ways to be suspended or fired from a job in academia. Many situations could have — really, should have — been avoided.
Some takeaways: Avoid unnecessary forays into politics or religion. And think before you speak — or tweet.
Here are our candidates for the most outrageous academic suspensions and firings of 2013:
1. FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY'S "JESUS-STOMPING" INCIDENT
Florida Atlantic University instructor Deandre Poole used an exercise from a textbook in which students write "Jesus" on a piece of paper and stomp on it to demonstrate the power of words as symbols. He was placed on administrative leave after backlash, and even received threats over the incident, but ultimately had his annual contract renewed.
2. SUSPENSION OVER SILENT PROTEST AT NAROPA U.
Administrators at a Buddhist university suspended a professor who refused to speak in class — although oddly it seems the suspension was barely related to his unwillingness to speak. While Prof. Don Matthews says the suspension was racially motivated, Naropa University officials say they received reports of him threatening students. Oh, and the whole "not speaking" thing? Matthews said he was engaging in silent protest against racial bias on campus. He would walk around with a piece of paper explaining his protest and answer questions during the last bit of his classes.
3. 'S "KILLING SPREE" JOKE NOT SO FUNNY AT UCF
University of Central Florida accounting instructor Hyung-il Jung was placed on paid administrative leave for referencing "a killing spree" while talking to students. Jung reportedly told students in a review session: "This question is very difficult. It looks like you guys are being slowly suffocated by these questions. Am I on a killing spree or what?" He was eventually cleared to teach again.
4. TRUSTEES FROWN UPON PROFESSOR'S POLITICKING
Brevard Community College Associate Professor Sharon Sweet lost her job after it was revealed that she pressured students to vote for President Barack Obama in November, even forcing them to sign pledge cards in some cases. College trustees voted 3-1 in favor of her termination.
5. ANTI-NRA TWEET LANDS ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOR KU PROF.
University of Kansas journalism professor David Guth was placed on administrative leave over an anti-NRA tweet posted after the Navy Yard shooting in Washington. The tweet in question didn't exactly mince words: "The blood is on the hands of the #NRA. Next time, let it be YOUR sons and daughters. Shame on you. May God damn you." The school announced in October that Guth wouldn't return to the classroom this year and has been assigned other responsibilities.
6. VIDEO OF REPUBLICAN-BASHING PROF. CREATES UPROAR IN MICH.
Michigan State University pulled Prof. William Penn was pulled from teaching duties after he was recorded railing against Republicans and “closet racists” in class. As with so many moments that people wish would disappear and be forgotten, the moment was caught on video. The video shows him attacking Republican Mitt Romney and his wife. In November the school announced that Penn would return in January to teach creative writing.
7. ILL. PROF. LOSES MORE THAN TEACHING AWARD
A dispute over a $500 teaching award started a chain of events that saw a professor accused of publicly embarrassing a student, videotaping students and sending seniors an email with sexual overtones. Ultimately, University of Illinois trustees voted to revoke engineering professor Louis Wozniak's tenure — effectively firing him.
8. STUDENT-TEACHER BRAWL AT FRESNO CITY COLLEGE
There's disagreement over exactly what happened in the classroom, but what's certain is that Fresno City College instructor Brian Calhoun told colleagues he was fired after a confrontation with a female student. A jury later found him guilty of misdemeanor battery.
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