Professor told joke in front of Aurora victim's family

UPDATE August 21, 2012

Family Says Professor Shouldn’t Be Fired Over Aurora Joke
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 20, 2012

DENVER (AP) — The family of a man killed in the Aurora, Colo., movie theater shooting last month said it did not want a United States Merchant Marine Academy professor dismissed for a joke he made about the attack.

Original report

Gregory Sullivan, Professor At U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Suspended For Colorado Shooting Remark
AP/The Huffington Post
Posted: 08/16/2012

KINGS POINT, N.Y. -- A professor at the United States Merchant Marine Academy faces dismissal for joking about the Colorado movie theater shootings in front of his students, including one whose father was among the victims.

James Holmes, the suspect in the Aurora, Colo., mass shooting, has dyed his hair bright orange.

The professor had just turned down the lights to show the documentary and was preparing to step out for a few minutes when he made the remark.

According to The New York Times, the professor said, “If someone with orange hair appears in the corner of the room, run for the exit."

Shashi Kumar, the institution's academic dean, called the joke "notoriously disgraceful conduct" and recommended that Sullivan be fired. The internal document said Sullivan was informed on Aug. 10 that he had 10 days to contest his dismissal.

The document also said Sullivan had been unaware that the father of one of his students was killed in the shootings. It said he immediately apologized to the student after being told of his loss. He also offered apologies to the entire class and the administration.

But the notice also said the professor should have been aware of the student's loss because the school had sent an email about it on July 25 and the student had been absent for a few days. It said Sullivan also had given two other students permission to miss class to attend a funeral in Colorado.
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