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The New Guard

VWU Professor Attacks Conservatives In Internal Email: ‘I am Sickened,’ ‘Examine Your Conscience’

By

Kara Zupkus

July 19, 2023

A professor at Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU) resigned from his post as chapter advisor for a conservative student group, slamming the students in an fiery email.

Dr. William Gibson, a professor of political science and chair of the department, sent a scathing resignation email to leaders in the VWU College Republicans on January 6.

“Today…I am sickened. I have had it; I’m over it. You will have to find another faculty adviser for your group,” Gibson wrote in the email, obtained exclusively through Young America’s Foundation’s Campus Bias Tip Line.

Gibson attempts to blame the student organization for the riot at the U.S. Capitol, despite the fact that no member attended or supported the violent protest.

“…your party exits the Trump years in tatters and disgrace, having lost any legitimate claim as a party that stands for constitutional principles and conservative values. Each of you should take a break and examine your conscience,” the email read.

YAF reached out to VWU for information on the university’s response to the email. “The institution’s administration was unaware of this until the most recent student newspaper was released,” Stephanie Martinez told YAF. “Students of all political affiliations are welcome at our University.” Martinez did not comment on whether or not administrators spoke with Gibson about his email.

This follows a similar incident at Penn State University, where another professor recently attacked a Young Americans for Freedom chapter for seeking an advisor.

These conservative students are being slandered by a professor for the heinous crimes of a few. It is this conservative group’s constitutional right to exist on campus–whether this professor likes it or not. Perhaps he should examine his conscience, and reconsider his professionalism and demeanor in dealing with college students with whom he disagrees.


Are you facing bias on your campus? Submit a tip to YAF’s Campus Bias Tip Line.

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