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.
