Category: National University Refuses to Rehire Math Professor Who Criticized Slavery Reparations
Virginia | August 2, 2021
Saint Joseph’s University will not renew its contract with math Professor Gregory Manco despite the fact that a three-month investigation into his Twitter history found he had not violated any campus policies.
Manco has been a non-tenured assistant professor of math at Saint Joseph’s since 2005 and also a volunteer assistant baseball coach, but tweets in February criticizing slavery reparations and racial bias training had prompted the probe even though he used an anonymous account.
He was put on administrative leave during the probe. Its outcome, announced in May, determined Manco could not be found guilty of violating any policies, citing “insufficient evidence.”
Saint Joseph’s University told The College Fix that the decision not to renew Manco’s contract was transactional and based on the needs of the university.
“The University evaluates academic staffing needs each year and awards or renews contracts to visiting professors on an as-needed basis,” spokesperson Gail Benner told The College Fix. “A non-renewal does not affect an individual’s eligibility for future employment opportunities with the University.”
While the investigation was underway, a petition supporting Manco “from cancel culture” had garnered more than 1,000 signatures.
Manco, for his part, told The College Fix this week that he is talking to his lawyer and hopes to appeal the decision and continue teaching at Saint Joseph’s.
“I never should have been investigated for my contractually protected extramural speech,” he and, “I surely should not have been pulled out of the classroom for 11 weeks on top of it.”
Manco said he worries that the dispute will harm his professional reputation and remains convinced the decision was politically motivated…. (Excerpts from Virginia Star)