Fat people don’t deserve Ph.D.s, according to one New York University professor.
Geoffrey Miller, a psychology professor, delivered an offensive message to all overweight Ph.D. candidates via Twitter this week, as the Daily Caller reported.
“Dear obese PhD applicants: If you don’t have the willpower to stop eating carbs, you won’t have the willpower to do a dissertation. #truth.”
He deleted the post, but not before the tweet caught the attention of students and professors alike.
Astonishing fat-shaming tweet, since deleted, from an academic, @matingmind. The mind boggles. pbs.twimg.com/media/BLykUGQC…
— Jay Rosen(@jayrosen_nyu) June 2, 2013
Dear rejected UNM psychology applicants: save now-deleted tweet for potential lawsuit. Jerk. @matingmind pic.twitter.com/FxN4rpmRRD
— Jason DeCaro (@jason_decaro) June 2, 2013
An email campaign has also been organized to have Miller fired.
After being trolled on Twitter, Miller quickly apologized for his controversial tweet.
“Obviously my previous tweet does not represent the selection policies of any university or my own selection criteria.Sincere apologies to all for that idiotic, impulsive, and badly judged tweet,” his tweet read.
His tweets are now protected.
Miller is only a visiting professor at NYU, and he usually teaches at the University of New Mexico. While NYU said Miller could continue on in his post, UNM was a little less forgiving about the matter.
“We are deeply concerned about the impact of the statement, which in no way reflects the policies or admission standards of UNM,” UNM announced in a statement. “We are investigating every aspect of this incident and will take appropriate action.”
According to the statement, Miller claimed he sent the tweet as part of a new research project.
“When UNM’s Department chair learned of the tweet, she contacted Professor Miller, who is currently on unpaid leave from UNM while at NYU,” the statement reads. “He told her that his comment on Twitter was part of a research project.”
While it remains to be seen whether Miller was conducting an experiment this time, the professor has ridiculed people for not staying in shape before.
“If we all ate paleo diets and did CrossFit, mental and physical health would soar,” he tweeted earlier this month.
