A university professor has been sacked after being filmed yelling in the face of a student who failed his course.
History professor Robert Evins Pickard was dismissed from Tennessee State University after a video of the incident circulated online.
Pickard is seen in the clip shouting intensely in a student’s face before ordering him to leave the classroom.
Pickard loudly yells, “What is your name?” in the clip and “Get out! You have failed this course, whatever your name is! Out! Out! Out! Out!”
A statement from the university on Tuesday said that it took “swift action including personnel action” in relation to the incident, including terminating Pickard's employment.
“TSU does not tolerate unprofessional behaviour in its classrooms or otherwise directed at students,” the statement read, in quotes reported by the New York Post.
“The University is committed to providing a healthy and positive academic environment for all students.
“This incident runs afoul of the standard of behaviour we expect from those charged with teaching and serving as role models for our students.”
Pickard said he had retired while making his own statement to WSMV.
“I deeply regret what happened in class. I lost my temper and did something I should never have done,” he said to the TV station.
“I have been under pressure lately, and I have been frustrated with students who pay attention to their cellphones and laptops, then wonder why they get low grades. But that does not excuse my behaviour.
“I apologized to the students and offered my resignation. I am now retired, as I had planned anyway. Please respect my privacy, it is over now.”
Students sharing the video online claimed that Pickard had routinely yelled at his students.
One Twitter user who reposted the clip wrote: “This professor is at Tennessee State University and apparently talks to students like this all the time. Something needs to be done.”
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