After swearing at a student during a heated debate in class, Southern Utah University associate political science professor Stephen C. Roberds is being asked to answer for his use of the F-word.
Another question some have raised is whether Roberds' use of the word last month will impact his bid for tenure at SUU. His case for tenure is headed to a faculty peer review committee.
"I think you have to look at a whole range of issues regarding how things are used," said SUU President Steven D. Bennion. "You have to look at the review in a holistic way.
"I think if someone swears once or twice — probably quite a few people do that," Bennion added. "We're not here to nitpick."
Bennion offered few comments on Roberds other than to say the tenure review might not be complete until February and that he will try not to "micromanage" or "prejudice" the process.
Roberds immediately apologized to the class, according to the campus paper University Journal, which this past week published a news story, editorial and letter to the editor about the incident.
Contacted by the Deseret Morning News Friday, Roberds declined to comment.
Students in the Journal are quoted as supporting Roberds' abilities as a professor. One said the professor's reputation for being "controversial" should be celebrated.
A few students quoted in the Journal were critical of Roberds' immediate supervisor and political science department chairman, Lamar Jordan, who described Roberds as a "passionate" teacher.
Four students said they were questioned by Jordan about the incident, according to the paper. Jordan had originally recommended approval of tenure for Roberds. But after questioning students, Jordan wrote an addendum recommending denial.
"There's more to the story than what you've had access to," Jordan told the Deseret Morning News. Using the F-word is one thing, he added, but when it's directed at a student and described as a personal attack, "that's a different matter."
Jordan said the addendum was the result of "additional investigation." He also said he doesn't want to "cloud" the review process in fairness to the privacy rights afforded Roberds during what he and Bennion both refer to as a personnel issue.
Jordan on Friday wrote a response to the Nov. 15 Journal article, headlined "Witch Hunt Seeks Evidence." In his letter to the editor, Jordan criticized the students he interviewed about Roberds, saying they violated the professor's right to privacy by talking to the press. Jordan said he had asked the students to keep the interviews confidential.
At the end of his letter, which Jordan expects will be printed in the paper next week, he urges that Roberds' tenure review process be allowed to continue without further "speculation and questioning" from the Journal and "other members of the media."
E-mail: sspeckman@desnews.com