Pitt Law School adjunct teacher resigns after using racial slur

An adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law resigned Wednesday afternoon, after using a racial slur during a class discussion.

Law students at the University of Pittsburgh were informed via email Wednesday evening.

According to the email, the teacher, who was not named, used the N-word while discussing a particular case involving offensive language. The teacher later apologized and informed the class at 1 p.m. Wednesday that he would resign immediately.

“We condemn the use of this word, and we believe that saying this word and words like it, even in an academic context, is deeply hurtful,” said the email, which was signed by Dean Amy Wildermuth, Vice Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi and Dean of Students Alexandra Linsenmeyer.

The School of Law declined questions about the course being taught or the case in discussion. The school also declined to answer whether administrators knew of the incident before the instructor’s resignation.

“The university does not comment on personnel matters,” said David Seldin, assistant vice chancellor of communications.

This is not the first instance in the area of an educator leaving the classroom after use of racial epithets. Duquesne University last week fired an education professor after he used slur in a virtual lecture related to race.

That professor’s attorney and some civil liberties advocates have argued against Duquesne’s disciplinary measures, saying they violate the university’s own policies regarding academic freedom.