A California professor who argued with a student about whether police officers are “heroes” has since taken a leave of absence.
After the unidentified adjunct professor at Cypress College was caught on camera arguing with Braden Ellis, a 19-year-old student, for saying he thought the police were “heroes,” the college said it was “reviewing the full recording” before it addresses the matter.
“Cypress College takes great pride in fostering a learning environment for students where ideas and opinions are exchanged as a vital piece of the educational journey,” the college said in a statement on Friday. “Our community fully embraces this culture; students often defend one another’s rights to express themselves freely, even when opinions differ. Any efforts to suppress free and respectful expression on our campus will not be tolerated.”
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The California college confirmed the adjunct professor will be taking a leave of absence for the duration of her assignment. The unnamed professor was teaching her first course at Cypress College, and she previously indicated she will not be returning in the fall, the statement added.
During the video call, which was first reported by the Daily Wire on Thursday, Ellis said he thinks “cops are heroes and they have to have a difficult job,” prompting the professor to ask, “All of them?”
Ellis said that “a good majority” of officers were heroes, a statement with which the professor disagreed.
“A lot of police officers have committed an atrocious crime and have gotten away with it and have never been convicted of any of it,” the professor said.
While reiterating his support for police, Ellis said that “the people who do bad things should be brought to justice.”
Later in the exchange, the 19-year-old student asked the professor whether she would call the police in the event of an emergency.
“I wouldn’t call the police … [because] I don’t trust them,” she said. “My life’s in more danger in their presence.”
When Ellis asked the professor whether she would be armed and what she would do when facing down an intruder, she ended the class.
“I know that it’s not popular for me to say that to you guys and the people in here, but it’s what I believe,” Ellis said just before the class concluded.
The exchange comes as many on the Right have expressed their concern that free speech is being infringed on college campuses. The alleged censorship of opposing viewpoints prompted some academics to form the Academic Freedom Alliance, an organization to allow higher education scholars to express their viewpoints freely.
“Members of the Academic Freedom Alliance come from across the political spectrum,” its website reads. “We are united in our commitment to truth-seeking scholarship, and in recognizing that an attack on academic freedom anywhere is an attack on academic freedom everywhere.”
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A representative for Cypress College did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner‘s request for comment.
