Professor Allegedly Called Police on Black Student for Having Feet Propped Up During Class, Calling It 'Uncivil'

professor call police black student
A professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, above, allegedly called the police on a black student during class for having her feet propped up on a chair. Google Maps/Screenshot

The University of Texas at San Antonio is investigating a viral video that claims a professor at the school called the police on a black student for having their feet propped up on a chair.

The video, which already has over 1 million views on Twitter, was posted to Twitter by user @ApurvaYRawal on Monday. In the video, police officers can be seen escorting the unidentified student out of a classroom at the university.

"So this happened today in class, a girl had her feet up and the professor called the police after calling our class uncivil," Rawal wrote on Twitter along with the video.

In a thread on Twitter, Rawal said the teacher stopped class because the student had her feet propped up on a chair in front of her, but was not talking or interrupting the lecture.

So this happened today in class, a girl had her feet up and the professor called the police after calling our class uncivil 😬 pic.twitter.com/spq0ShXiFU

— Apurva Rawal (@ApurvaYRawal) November 12, 2018

"The class before this professor went on a whole tirade about how uncivil we all were because a few students were on their phone or not paying attention, cutting lecture time for the rest of us because her ego was bruised," Rawal wrote. "As upset as I am that my professor decided to throw a temper tantrum the lecture before an exam and cancel class, I'm even more outraged that she would decide to single out and humiliate a student just to flex her authority in a destructive manner."

Rawal demanded that the university look into the matter and answer to what happened in the classroom.

"I chose to attend this university because of it's welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, and today's events genuinely make me concerned for not only my fellow students, but any future roadrunners that may choose to attend this institution in the future," Rawal wrote.

Another Twitter user retweeted Rawal's video and wrote on Twitter that she was the student who was escorted out of the classroom. She claimed the professor in the video was Anita Moss and said she had filed a police report.

"This is me in Anita Moss' 2053 Bio classroom. Upon entering class I was told I needed to leave or would be escorted out by officers, I never disobeyed the student code of conduct. Not once. A police report is being filed atm, this is just the beginning. Thanks for your support!" she wrote.

Newsweek has reached out to the woman who has identified herself as the student being escorted out of the class by officers but did not receive an immediate response.

In response to the video, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Kimberly Andrews Espy at the university said she and College of Sciences Interim Dean Howard Grimes were aware of the video and are responding to the incident.

COS Interim Dean Howard Grimes and I both are aware of the video that was taken in a biology classroom earlier today. Creating a classroom environment that is conducive to learning is our priority, so we too are concerned and will respond accordingly when we learn more. #utsa

— Kimberly Andrews Espy (@ProvostEspy) November 12, 2018

"COS Interim Dean Howard Grimes and I both are aware of the video that was taken in a biology classroom earlier today. Creating a classroom environment that is conducive to learning is our priority, so we too are concerned and will respond accordingly when we learn more," Andrews wrote on Twitter.

The university's President Taylor Eighmy said in a statement on Monday that there is an investigation into the video and "the circumstance represents another example of the work we need to do as an institution around issues of inclusivity and supporting our students of color."

"While the facts aren't fully known regarding today's incident, our Office of Equal Opportunity Services is already conducting an investigation into possible discrimination," Eighmy said in his statement. "In addition, an inquiry regarding the academic management of the classroom is being conducted by Interim Dean of the College of Sciences Howard Grimes."

Screen Shot 2018-11-13 at 12
The campus at the University of Texas at San Antonio. A professor at the university allegedly called the police on a black student during class for having her feet propped up on a chair. Google Maps/Screenshot

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Maria Perez is a breaking news reporter for Newsweek. She has an M.A in Urban Reporting from the CUNY Graduate School ... Read more

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