Murray State U. professor Mark Wattier to retire amid controversy over slavery remark
The Associated Press
February 21, 2011
A longtime Murray State University professor has decided to retire after referring to slavery while making a point about tardiness to two black students last semester, the school said Friday.
Political science professor Mark Wattier has filed his retirement application with the state, with an effective date of March 1, university spokeswoman Catherine Sivills said.
One of the students filed a complaint with the university, and Wattier was suspended without pay.
His career spanned 30 years at the school in Kentucky's southwest corner, including time as Faculty Senate president.
In a lengthy e-mail sent to The Associated Press on Friday titled "My Side of the Story," Wattier acknowledged he made a mistake.
The student who filed the complaint, Arlene Johnson, said in her own e-mail to the AP that she's happy that Wattier is retiring, adding that it shows that his actions toward her were "disrespectful."
