KINGS POINT, N.Y., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- A professor in New York will serve a 45-day suspension instead of being fired for his insensitive comment about the Colorado theater shootings, the school says.
The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's academic dean had initially intended to fire Professor Gregory F. Sullivan for his comment as he was about to show a film in class this summer. In an apparent reference to the accused shooter in the Aurora, Colo., shootings, Sullivan said, "If someone with orange hair appears in the corner of the room, run for the exit." He said later he didn't know the father of one of the students in the class was among the dozen people killed in the massacre.
While the academic dean had called Sullivan's behavior "notoriously disgraceful conduct," the academy issued a statement this week that the decision to suspend him "was made after careful review of all information collected," The New York Times reported.
"The academy's first priority is the well-being of its students, and it will continue to work with the entire campus community to ensure its ability to train and educate the nation's future merchant mariners," the statement said.
The tenured professor, who also is to complete five hours of sensitivity training, could not be reached for comment Wednesday, the newspaper said. Earlier, he apologized to the bereaved student, whose family has said a "single distasteful remark" should not be grounds for dismissal, a school document showed.
