An adviser to graduate students at Duke University has stepped down from the role due to an email she sent to students.
Durham, N. C. — An adviser to graduate students at Duke University has stepped down from the role due to an email she sent to students.
The email was sent to a group of biostatistics masters students by Megan Neely, an assistant professor and a director of graduate studies, and addressed the use of Chinese language within the department.
A screenshot of Neely’s Jan. 25 email titled „Something to think about…“ was validated by Keith Lawrence, a spokesperson for Duke University, and references two comments made to Neely by faculty members.
According to Neely’s email, two faculty members came to her office and asked her about a small group of first-year students who they observed speaking Chinese „in their words, very loudly“ in the student lounge areas.
The faculty members told Neely they wanted the students‘ names so they could remember them „if the students every interviewed for an internship or asked to work with them for a master’s project.
