Cornell University condemned an undergraduate professor who promised to fail students for improperly wearing their masks and sent an email asking students to tattle on their peers who do not comply.
Bruce Monger is a professor for “Introduction to Oceanography,” which is “one of the largest undergraduate classes at Cornell,” according to a Cornell spokeswoman. Monger sent an email asking students to help identify two students who were caught improperly wearing their masks during class. (RELATED: Cornell Prof Vows To Fail Students Who Improperly Wore Masks During Class)
The email used descriptors such as “prominent hooked nose” to help students identify their classmates. Rebecca Valli, director of media relations at Cornell, told the Daily Caller that the way Monger described the students does not “reflect Cornell values.”
“Last week, Dr. Monger emailed the class seeking assistance identifying two unmasked students who had been photographed by concerned classmates,” Valli said. “In the email, Dr. Monger described the unmasked students’ physical characteristics in ways that do not reflect Cornell values. Dr. Monger has since acknowledged that his approach to dealing with unmasked students in class was not handled in an appropriate manner.”
Thank you for bringing it to our attention. Here is our statement regarding Dr. Monger. pic.twitter.com/3eqfsvzNaI
— Cornell University (@Cornell) November 1, 2021
The university did not condemn the professor for vowing to fail students for allegedly improperly wearing their masks. The guidelines imposed by Monger are not aligned with the Office of Dean’s guide for students who do not comply with mask mandates. Faculty are encouraged to remind students to wear their masks or refer repeated offenders to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Cornell University also has a vaccine requirement for all students who return to on-campus and in-classroom living and learning.