A California professor is under fire for allegedly telling a student not to have a girlfriend from around campus because of the “stark differences” between women in and out of the Bay Area.
Jonathan Shewchuk, a computer science professor at UC Berkeley, made the shocking comments on an online discussion board in response to one of his students looking for advice on dating in the area and finding work in the field, the Daily Cal reported.
“If you want a girlfriend, get out of the Bay Area. Almost everywhere else on the planet is better for that. I’m not kidding at all,” Shewchuk reportedly said, according to screenshots of the comment posted to social media.
“You’ll be shocked by the stark differences in behavior of women in places where women are plentiful versus their behavior within artillery distance of San Jose and San Francisco.”
Several students immediately called out the CS 189 discussion thread, an introductory course, that had turned into an informal dating advice chat.
“With all due respect, I don’t think this is very appropriate for a classroom discussion board (let alone at all.)” one student replied.
“This conversation is entirely inappropriate for a forum intended for learning and has tones of misogyny. As a woman taking this class I’m shocked by this thread as well as the professor’s engagement.”
“Hard agree, as a TA, if I said this, I would be (rightfully) fired.”
The chairs of the university’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science departments met with the educator seemingly prompting him to apologize, according to SF Gate.
“I apologize for my reply, which has caused bad feelings I did not intend,” Shewchuk said in a discussion post titled “Re: My reply to Anonymous Gnat.” “I did not mean to convey any disrespect for women, or anybody else, nor blame the blameless. I value all my students. I am sorry for my words and for how it made many of you feel.”
“I hope you’ll understand that my comment was motivated by sympathy and a desire to help students. Life is hard sometimes. I feel for all of you who are having a rough time, for whatever reason. Things get better, and it starts with empathy for each other.”
UC Berkeley officials deemed Shewchuk’s original response as offensive.
“The comment was hurtful and threatening to students — particularly women — in his class and beyond,” Roqua Montez, a spokesperson for UC Berkeley told SF Gate. “We strive to foster a supportive, inclusive environment for all our students, and we invite everyone to continue to engage with us as we work to improve the climate for our community.”
Former and current students of the embattled professor claim this isn’t the first time he has made offensive, misogynistic comments.
A junior at the school said she avoided taking a class with Shewchuk because she was uncomfortable based on prior conduct she heard about, along with a “transphobic joke on his website,” according to the Daily Cal.
Last May, a UC Berkeley professor apologized after claiming to be Native American all her life and breaking the trust she had with the Native communities.
Elizabeth Hoover, a white associate professor in the environmental science and policy management department at UC Berkeley, said she “incorrectly identified” herself based on “incomplete information,” according to a statement on her personal website.
