A University of Kansas professor, Phillip Lowcock, has ignited widespread condemnation after a shocking statement during a lecture where he suggested that men who refuse to vote for a female president should be "lined up and shot." The comments, made earlier this month, quickly went viral after being captured on video and shared across social media platforms, drawing swift backlash from students, political figures, and university officials.
The professor, who teaches in the Department of Health, Sport, and Exercise Sciences, was discussing his frustrations with men who believe that women aren’t "smart enough" to hold the office of president. "We can line up all those guys and shoot 'em; they clearly don’t understand how the world works," Lowcock is heard saying in the clip. He quickly followed up by saying, "Scratch that from the recording," but the damage was already done as the video spread across the internet.
🚨BREAKING:
The University of Kansas has replied to the viral video of a professor calling for men that won’t vote for a woman president to be SH0T:
“Hi, thank you for your message. The University is aware of a video recorded during a class earlier this semester. The… pic.twitter.com/UdnpLzpOjb
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) October 9, 2024
The remarks, which appear to reference men unwilling to vote for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election, sparked intense reactions. Among the most vocal critics was U.S. Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), who took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the professor's comments. "Anyone saying men who don’t vote for Kamala Harris should be ‘lined up and shot’ is deranged and shouldn’t be around students nor academia," Marshall wrote, calling for Lowcock's immediate termination.
Lowcock's comments also prompted criticism from conservative groups like Turning Point USA, which reported the incident to the university, urging swift action. The outrage wasn’t limited to students and activists; alumni of the University of Kansas, such as Alex Dwyer, condemned the professor’s rhetoric as "un-American" and "dangerous," further amplifying the controversy online.
POV: You’re a Republican at the University of Kansas. pic.twitter.com/tAWliRSNud
— Alex Dwyer (@AlexDwyerKS) October 9, 2024
The University of Kansas responded promptly by placing Lowcock on administrative leave while they investigate the incident. In a brief statement posted on X, the university expressed that they do not condone the instructor's remarks and are taking the matter seriously. The university also removed Lowcock's staff profile from their athletics website and canceled his class following the video's release.
This controversy is not an isolated incident at the University of Kansas. In recent years, the institution has found itself at the center of politically charged debates. For instance, in 2019, the university offered a course titled "Angry White Males," which received heavy criticism from conservative media. Additionally, a professor from the same university made headlines in 2013 after blaming the National Rifle Association (NRA) for the deaths resulting from a mass shooting, further deepening concerns about the political climate on campus.
Many have expressed fears that such inflammatory rhetoric from educators could encourage violence in an already polarized society. Senator Marshall emphasized this point, stating that some individuals may be "insane enough" to take such statements seriously and act on them. He urged the university to take decisive action to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the investigation unfolds, the broader conversation surrounding free speech, academic freedom, and responsible discourse in university settings continues to evolve. While some defend Lowcock’s right to express frustration with gender bias, others argue that calls for violence, even in jest, have no place in academia, particularly in today’s highly charged political environment.
