Fresno State Has 'Deep Concerns' About Professor Calling Barbara Bush 'Racist'
FRESNO (CBSLA) - Cal State Fresno is distancing itself from disparaging comments made by an English professor about former First Lady Barbara Bush hours after her death.
Fresno State President Joseph Castro released a statement Tuesday evening saying the university "share[d] the deep concerns expressed by others over personal comments" made by professor Randa Jarrar after she called Bush a "racist who...raised a war criminal".
Shortly after Bush died Tuesday evening, Jarrar tweeted: "Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal. F--- outta here with your nice words."
Jarrar later tweeted, "I'm happy the witch is dead."
By Wednesday morning, Jarrar's Twitter account appeared to be set to private with a message saying she was "currently on leave from Fresno State".
While Castro did not immediately confirm Jarrar's status, he did say her statements "were made as a private citizen, not a representative of Fresno State."
The statement added: "Professor Jarrar's expressed personal views are obviously contrary to the core values of our University, which include respect and empathy for individuals with divergent points of view, and a sincere commitment to mutual understanding and progress."
According to her university bio, Jarrar was raised in Kuwait and Egypt before moving to the U.S. after the Gulf War.