bruningm@lopers.unk.edu

The UNK Police Department received a call from a female student on April 3 reporting an assault on campus. According to the report in the UNK Daily Crime & Fire Log, the student said she was intentionally struck in the head by a professor on March 31. She said this contact caused damage to a preexisting head trauma. 

Another student, who wishes to remain anonymous for concern of being judged by their peers, was in the same class in the Bruner Hall during the time of the incident. The professor struck three students, and the female student reported the incident to UNKPD. An anonymous student said they talked to a UNKPD officer but didn’t make a report. 

According to this student, the class was taking a test while the professor walked around to monitor students’ screens. At some point, the professor became upset with some people who answered incorrectly on the test. This led to the professor striking the anonymous student twice and two other students once each. 

The anonymous student that The Antelope interviewed said this faculty member was a visiting professor and “had previous complaints about overcomplicating topics in their courses.” 

Todd Gottula, senior director of Communications and Marketing at UNK, said the professor has been placed on administrative leave. 

“That faculty is not allowed on campus or in that classroom,” Gottula said. “They will not be returning to that class.”

No charges have been filed. 

The class where the assaults took place was not canceled. After March 31, the following Monday and Wednesday class times were led by other professors within the department. The class has been reassigned to another faculty member in the department that has experience teaching the course. 

This case is open and UNKPD is actively investigating the incident.