A Pace and Fordham University professor is currently being investigated after a Fordham student reported a racially biased email to the university’s Title IX Coordinator.

Junior at Fordham University at Lincoln Center, Tristen Dossett, reportedly emailed Professor Heide Jonassen, also known as Morgan Jenness, requesting an extension on an assignment. According to Dossett, though he was not the only one to ask for an extension, he was the only one who received what he called a “racially charged” response.

According to Jonassen’s email, which Dossett posted on social media, she wrote, “it is really disappointing to see you fall into a stereotype narrative the dominant society expects…your lateness, non attendance..now this. You are better than that Tristen…. please do not do this narrative…”

Jonassen is currently Creative Director at This Distracted Globe Consultancy and a member of the board of the Network of Ensemble Theaters and has worked at the New York Shakespeare Festival/Public Theater, the New York Theater Workshop, and the Los Angeles Theater.

“I was trying to galvanize a student whom I thought was not living up to his enormous potential and did it in the worst, most insensitive, inappropriate way. I had no intention of causing him pain,” said Jonassen. “I learned that even for someone with my extensive history of activism and championing of diverse voices in the theater, I am not immune to a bad case of E-W-L-A-P-A-, Entitled White Liberal Assumptive/Presumptive Arrogance.”

Dossett reported the email to Fordham’s Title IX Coordinator, stating that, “this remark made me feel invalidated and useless as a student, let alone as a black male. I was already struggling with the assignment, hence my request for an extension, and her comment that I am becoming a (what I have interpreted as) racial stereotype deeply affected my subconscious in many different ways, as well as saddened me.”

Dossett also stated that the claims that Jonassen made in her email about his attendance and promptness were exaggerated.

“I believe that it is extremely inappropriate for a white professor to tell a black student that they are becoming a stereotype,” Dossett wrote. “…I have missed 3 classes, emailing about my case each time, one of which was a medical emergency. My lateness as well could not possibly account for her perception of me as a student considering the latest I have ever been is 5 minutes (I am a commuter).”

While Pace professor and Associate Director of the School of Performing Arts, Grant Kretchik, says that Jonassen’s response was not the best way to handle the situation, he feels that Jonassen should not be judged based on this “isolated” incident.

“The road to hell is paved with good intent,” said Kretchik. “I believe the goal was to try to challenge the student and I think as educators we have a responsibility to do that but I think the vehicle in which she used to challenge [Dossett] was sensitive.”

Kretchik also says that the faculty at Pace and Jonassen’s student are supporting her.

“They love her, she’s an extraordinary human being and professor. She has mentored and supported and encouraged a variety of our students, a diverse group of students, through projects and endeavors outside of the school like plays and storytelling and productions that they’ve wanted to use for social change and awareness,” says Kretchik. “While we’re disappointed by the [situation], Morgan [Jonassen] is worth standing by. It’s so difficult to look at one incident unless you fairly evaluate the record of someone’s career. You must look at [Jonassen’s] whole record, she is out marching and advocating for all kinds of issues and people. I think it’s terribly unfair to take this situation and let it cloud her whole record.”

Jonassen apologized to the student via email, stating that she regrets having offended him and that, “[I] personally feel not holding everyone up to the same high standards is disrespectful to someone’s capabilities..lowered expectations for people to me is the worst kind of bigotry.”

However, Dossett told that Title IX Coordinator that he “simply cannot imagine” continuing on in Jonassen’s class.

“It’s been a painful lesson to learn, but one I hope that will be useful in opening up a deep dialog about intent and impact,” Jonassen said.

Dossett was contacted but did not respond for comment.

https://twitter.com/ebonylivv/status/790398448969277440

https://twitter.com/ebonylivv/status/790400064690671617