A university tutor at Monash University, Gary Lacey, is being investigated after allegedly using racial slurs, including the n-word, during his classes. Lacey, a teaching associate, claimed that the word was used for the “purpose of analysis” in the context of what he was teaching and that he was “allowed” to say it because his wife was Kenyan.
Lacey’s class explored the representation of different ethnic identities in popular culture and included case studies involving Jews, Italians, African-Americans, and Asian Americans. However, his alleged use of racial slurs left students feeling uncomfortable, prompting several to report him.
Meredith Leviston, a student in Lacey’s class, claimed that he had already received a complaint from his first-class about using slurs but continued using them in his second class. Lacey’s liberal use of the n-word made students feel very uncomfortable, as there was “too much stigma” surrounding the word “even in an academic context.”
Leviston alleged that Lacey purposely used the word, knowing it was likely to offend someone and that it was not necessarily used within the context of the discussion when he was teaching.
The university’s unit coordinator emailed students on Monday night, revealing that the university was looking into Lacey’s conduct. Monash University confirmed that complaints about Lacey were being investigated, and an alternative tutor has been allocated to the tutorials while the matter is being investigated.
The university spokesperson reiterated that Monash does not tolerate racism of any kind and encouraged staff and students to report any type of inappropriate behaviour to the Respectful Communities team or the relevant authorities.
Lacey has worked at Monash University as a lecturer, tutor, and coordinator since March 2000. The incident has sparked a debate about the use of racial slurs in academic settings and whether there are circumstances in which they are appropriate. However, many argue that there is no justification for using such language, and it is up to educators to find alternative ways to teach complex and sensitive topics without resorting to offensive language.
»University lecturer is allegedly using racial slurs in class«
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