Students at the University of Southern Maine are in a tizzy after a professor at the school correctly stated there are only two genders.
On September 7th, Professor Christy Hammer made some inflammatory remarks to her graduate students in class, titled “Creating a Positive Learning Environment.” Only one other student reportedly agreed with her- resulting in quite a bit of backlash.
Elizabeth Leibiger, a student who identifies as non-binary said the claim made her feel “under personal attack.”
“I let her know I didn’t think she was qualified to teach a class about positive learning environments,” said Leibiger. “It’s the ultimate irony.”
On Sept. 14, the students of the class walked out in protest and demanded a meeting with the head of the School of Education and Human Development. The purpose of this meeting was to bring to light their grievances against Hammer and ultimately get her removed from his position.
Despite students’ complaints, university administrators have decided to create another class for those who felt unsafe with Hammer instead of axing the employee.
“We have developed an alternative plan for this class and will be opening a new section of this course for those students who would like to move,” said the university spokesperson Gina Marie Guadagnino. “The original section taught by professor Hammer will continue for any student who wishes to remain in that class.”
