Professor suspended for gun remark
Posted: Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:46 am
BOWLING GREEN - A Bowling Green State University professor, angry that a student showed up an hour late for class, allegedly told students afterward that he should bring an AK-47 assault rifle to class and shoot the whole class, one of the students said yesterday.
Benjamin Bohland, 20, a business major from Toledo who was one of about 50 students in the classroom, said there was a silence in the room after Professor Norman Eckel allegedly made the remark. But Mr. Bohland said the managerial accounting class continued and nothing else was said.
The professor was suspended for the remark on Feb. 1 after several students complained to university officials. Mr. Eckel, who has worked at BGSU since 1979, remains on paid administrative leave.
Mr. Bohland, who was not among those who complained, said he didn't take the comment seriously and believes Mr. Eckel was joking.
"I think it's blown out of proportion," Mr. Bohland said. "It was in a joking manner."
He said some students, though, may have become concerned about the remark because it was made about the same time a BGSU senior was charged in an unrelated matter with drawing up a hit list of students who he wanted to harm.
Mr. Bohland said the professor's teaching style is not popular with students, leading him to believe the reports could have been made in retaliation for the professor personally.
BGSU police Chief James Wiegand said a police report was not filed, and his office is not investigating the incident.
Mr. Eckel could not be reached for commentt.
Teri Sharp, a spokesman for the university, said she could not comment about the exact nature of the remark. University officials have described the remark as intimidating.
The incident remains under investigation by a three-member panel at BGSU.
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 90/-1/NEWS
Benjamin Bohland, 20, a business major from Toledo who was one of about 50 students in the classroom, said there was a silence in the room after Professor Norman Eckel allegedly made the remark. But Mr. Bohland said the managerial accounting class continued and nothing else was said.
The professor was suspended for the remark on Feb. 1 after several students complained to university officials. Mr. Eckel, who has worked at BGSU since 1979, remains on paid administrative leave.
Mr. Bohland, who was not among those who complained, said he didn't take the comment seriously and believes Mr. Eckel was joking.
"I think it's blown out of proportion," Mr. Bohland said. "It was in a joking manner."
He said some students, though, may have become concerned about the remark because it was made about the same time a BGSU senior was charged in an unrelated matter with drawing up a hit list of students who he wanted to harm.
Mr. Bohland said the professor's teaching style is not popular with students, leading him to believe the reports could have been made in retaliation for the professor personally.
BGSU police Chief James Wiegand said a police report was not filed, and his office is not investigating the incident.
Mr. Eckel could not be reached for commentt.
Teri Sharp, a spokesman for the university, said she could not comment about the exact nature of the remark. University officials have described the remark as intimidating.
The incident remains under investigation by a three-member panel at BGSU.
http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar ... 90/-1/NEWS
