A University of Kansas engineering professor says administrators removed him from teaching a course for the rest of the semester after he told a student to “learn English.”
The Lawrence Journal-World reports Gary Minden, a professor of electrical engineering and computer science, said he was told Thursday that students were upset by his comment.
Minden says he made the comment because the student was using a translator on a cellphone. He says the student didn’t seem to be offended but other students complained. The comment prompted an hour-long discussion in the class.
University spokeswoman Erinn Barcomb-Peterson said the university assigned a different instructor to the class because several students raised concerns about the comment. The new instructor will remain in the class while the investigation continues.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.