Protesters gather Sunday at UCF to demand firing.
Chanting “UCF, fire him!,” dozens of protesters gathered at the University of Central Florida campus on Sunday to demand that the university terminate Charles Negy, a psychology associate professor, for his controversial social media posts they call racist.
“He is specifically targeting students of color,” said Shaleria Lewis, a UCF graduate student who is obtaining a master’s degree in social work. “It’s an issue of systemic racism. … You can speak your opinions, but not when it’s hindering us in the classroom. I don’t think our university should tolerate racism at the classroom level and making students feel uncomfortable.”
A group of UCF officials — including President Alexander Cartwright — joined the crowd of about 60 protesters near the Reflection Pond to explain that the university has received “a significant number of reports” about Negy and is continuing to review his Twitter posts.
But they acknowledged firing a tenured professor for expressing his opinions is a complicated process.
“It’s incredibly important that we continue to honor the First Amendment,” Cartwright said to the protesters through a bullhorn. “The First Amendment also allows you to be here and state your voice.”
One of Negy’s most controversial recent tweets was posted shortly after the death of George Floyd, who was killed when a white Minneapolis police officer pinned his knee to Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd complained he could not breathe. The arrest was captured on cell phone video and sparked protests against police brutality in all 50 states and in other countries around the world.
Negy’s tweet read: “Sincere question: If Afr. Americans as a group, had the same behavioral profile as Asian Americans (on average, performing the best academically, having the highest income, committing the lowest crime, etc.), would we still be proclaiming “systemic racism” exists?”
Negy is the author of a book titled “White Shaming” and has been a prolific writer on Twitter for years. He has worked at UCF since 1998 and was granted tenure in 2001, according to the university. He earned a doctorate from Texas A&M University. On its main Twitter account, the university has called Negy’s comments on social media as “completely counter to UCF’s values.”
Negy could not be reached for comment on Sunday. However, in a June 4 email to the Sentinel, Negy said he understands he may have unpopular and controversial views. But he and the protesters also have a constitutional right to express them and challenge them.
“I am pro-Black, pro-Hispanic, pro-Asian, AND proWhite,” he wrote in his email. “This country belongs to everyone here.”
At the rally, Cartwright agreed that Negy’s tweets are uncomfortable to read.
“We are taking this seriously,” he said to protesters. “Your opinions matter, and we will to look into this. … But we have to go through a process. We will not make a decision until we have enough information.”
The protesters — comprised mostly of students and alumni — held signs that read: “If UCF Keeps Racist Teachers, Then UCF=Racist,” “UCF Fire Negy. He is leaving a negative impact on your institution,” and “Don’t Let Racists Teach.”
UCF has few students on campus, with the university switching to online classes for the spring and summer due to the coronavirus pandemic. But outcry has led thousands of people to sign online petitions calling for Negy’s firing, including one that has received more than 28,000 signatures, which also notes “perverse transphobia and sexism” on his account, describing the posts as “reprehensible.” The petition suggests Negy’s views have translated to maltreatment of students in his classroom. In March 2019, Negy responded to a post about another institution ending its requirement that undergraduate applicants submit college entrance exam scores.
“It’s the latest disingenuous ploy to admit more lessprepared African American and Hispanic students into a university for ‘diversity,’” Negy wrote. “Demanding less-prepared students improve their math and reading skills is too much to ask, apparently.”
Tonaye Smith, a senior who is obtaining a degree in communication sciences and disorders, called it “truly embarrassing” that Negy continues to teach at UCF after years of student complaints.
“There needs to be a better system in place that would fire someone like this more immediately,” she said. “As a black woman, if it’s not safe for me in a classroom, then where is it safe? … I’m paying a lot of money to come here. And I’m funding someone who makes other people, other students, feel small.”
A protester who gave her name only as Jessica told Cartwright that “having a racist professor depletes the value of a UCF degree.”