Georgetown University has fired a white law professor after a Zoom video of her making racist comments about the academic performance of Black students in her class went viral.

On Thursday, a video of professor Sandra Sellers speaking to professor David Batson in a recorded zoom call went viral on Twitter. The post has since received more than 660,000 views in 24 hours.

“You know what? I hate to say this, I end up having this angst every semester that a lot of my lower ones are Blacks. Happens almost every semester, and it’s like ‘oh come on,’” Sellers tells Batson.

“I get some really good ones, but there are also usually some that are just plain at the bottom, it drives me crazy... so I feel bad,” she continues.

Batson can be seen nodding his head in the video as Sellers makes her statements.

On Wednesday, Bill Treanor, the dean of Georgetown Law, criticized the conversation between the two professors and informed students he was reviewing the content.

“I have watched a video of this conversation and find the content to be abhorrent. It includes conduct that has no place in our educational community,” he said in a statement on the school website.

“We must ensure that all students are treated fairly and evaluated on their merits.”

The following day he released a statement revealing Sellers had been terminated from her position while Baston was placed on administrative leave.

“As a result of my decision, Professor Sellers is no longer affiliated with Georgetown Law. Professor Batson has been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Affirmative Action, the results of which will inform our next steps,” he said.

“Until the completion of the investigation, Professor Batson will have no further involvement with the course in which the incident arose.”

Treanor stated he would be taking action to address structural racism and will share his plans with the school's law community.

Georgetown University
While schools like Georgetown University have sizeable endowments, smaller colleges could face financial ruin if enrollments drop because of the coronavirus crisis. AFP / SAUL LOEB
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