According to Catherine Sivills, Murray State University’s
assistant vice president for communications, MSU political science
professor Mark Wattier has initiated his retirement process from
the university. Earlier this week it was reported that Wattier was
on suspension following an allegation that he made a racial remark
to a black student in class last August.
In a recent telephone interview with the Ledger & Times,
Arlene Johnson, a freshman from Sikeston, Mo., said she showed up
for Wattier’s class on time on Aug. 25 and a film was already in
progress. She said that after class, she and another student asked
Wattier why the film had started early and he told her he always
started films 10-15 minutes before class.
“And then he said, ‘Well, it’s OK, I expect it of you guys
anyway,’” Johnson said. “We asked him, ‘What did that mean?’ And he
said the slaves never showed up on time, so their owners often
lashed them for it. He just didn’t have the right.”
Johnson said she then filed a complaint with the MSU Office of
Equal Opportunity.
Sivills said that after the grievance process concluded, the
final decision resulted in Wattier’s suspension effective Jan. 4,
through May 15, 2011. He was suspended without pay and benefits, a
decision which Wattier appealed through the OEO. Sivills said his
appeal would be heard by a hearing body composed of three members
of the MSU community appointed by MSU President Dr. Randy Dunn.
Sivills said Friday morning that MSU’s Human Resources
department confirmed that Wattier had filed an application to the
Kentucky Teachers Retirement System and that his effective date
would be March 1. She said she did not yet know how the retirement
application would affect Wattier’s appeal.
Attempts to reach Wattier Friday morning were unsuccessful. A
woman identifying herself as his wife answered the phone and said
Wattier did not wish to speak to media anymore. The Ledger &
Times requested a copy of an e-mailed statement he had sent to
another newspaper, but the Ledger & Times was not provided with
a copy of that e-mail.
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