Thomas Shea must face consequences for his discriminations as a professor
The Issue
As someone in a position of power, Professor Thomas Shea has abused that power by putting his students into a corner and shaming them. Within one of his lectures, he bluntly stated his position on gender pronouns, stating that "they/them" is incorrect grammar (which is incorrect, when you don't know the gender of a person while talking about them, you use "they" 9 times out of 10) and that he refuses to use them for those who identify with said pronouns. This behavior is unacceptable. As stated within the university's discrimination guidelines:
"It is the policy of UMass Lowell that all members of the University community, its applicants, visitors and vendors, may not be subjected to unlawful discrimination or harassment in employment, admissions, participation in its programs, services and activities, and selection of vendors who provide services or products to UMass Lowell. UMass Lowell also prohibits practices that adversely impact protected classes. Classes protected under the law and these Guidelines
include: religion or religious belief, color, race, marital status, veteran or military status, age, sex (including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy or related conditions."
This man outwardly rejected these guidelines, in a classroom, in front of many students who may be struggling with their own gender discovery. There is no place within an academic institution where thousands of students attend. For the University to allow him to continue teaching without any repercussions would only show their endorsement towards professors with an attitude as such. This type of treatment of students and the community should NOT be tolerated and allowance of so will reap the consequences of incoming students who realize the school allows discriminators as their teachers.
Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, it is time you use your position of power to condemn any professors from outwardly expressing their discrimination, starting with Thomas Shea.
The Issue
As someone in a position of power, Professor Thomas Shea has abused that power by putting his students into a corner and shaming them. Within one of his lectures, he bluntly stated his position on gender pronouns, stating that "they/them" is incorrect grammar (which is incorrect, when you don't know the gender of a person while talking about them, you use "they" 9 times out of 10) and that he refuses to use them for those who identify with said pronouns. This behavior is unacceptable. As stated within the university's discrimination guidelines:
"It is the policy of UMass Lowell that all members of the University community, its applicants, visitors and vendors, may not be subjected to unlawful discrimination or harassment in employment, admissions, participation in its programs, services and activities, and selection of vendors who provide services or products to UMass Lowell. UMass Lowell also prohibits practices that adversely impact protected classes. Classes protected under the law and these Guidelines
include: religion or religious belief, color, race, marital status, veteran or military status, age, sex (including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct), gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, disability, genetic information, and pregnancy or related conditions."
This man outwardly rejected these guidelines, in a classroom, in front of many students who may be struggling with their own gender discovery. There is no place within an academic institution where thousands of students attend. For the University to allow him to continue teaching without any repercussions would only show their endorsement towards professors with an attitude as such. This type of treatment of students and the community should NOT be tolerated and allowance of so will reap the consequences of incoming students who realize the school allows discriminators as their teachers.
Chancellor Jacquie Moloney, it is time you use your position of power to condemn any professors from outwardly expressing their discrimination, starting with Thomas Shea.
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Petition created on March 28, 2021