After their instructor stated that there are only two sexes in existence in front of the class, a number of students at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, which is located in the state of Maine, are demanding that their instructor be fired.
An uproar among the graduate students was caused by a statement that was allegedly made by Christy Hammer, a professor of education. The statement was allegedly made during a heated debate about gender identity in her “Creating a Positive Learning Environment” class.
Only one of the students in the class shared the instructor’s viewpoint.
The remainder of the group maintained that social genders and biological sexes exist on a spectrum.
According to some of the other students in the class, the majority of those present concurred with the notion that there is a spectrum encompassing both gender and biological sex.
The point was initially brought up in a discussion during class on September 7, but it was brought up once more one week later by student Elizabeth Leibiger, who is non-binary and was absent the previous week.
After that, she went on to say that she felt like she was “under personal attack” after the professor reiterated that there are only two sexes in the world.
‘I asked [Hammer] how many sexes there were,’ Leibiger said. ‘She said, ‘Two.’ I felt under personal attack.’
There are only two types of males and females in the world, according to Biology. Chromosomes known as XY are only found in males, while XX chromosomes are only found in females. The progressive viewpoint holds that the spectrum of gender can be broader than the spectrum of sexuality.
Anti-woke activists, on the other hand, are warning that the current preoccupation with the fallacy that there are more than two sexes when, in fact, there are only two of each, is not only dangerous to people’s health but also absurd.
The majority of the 22 students in the class left, with only one exception, in order to voice their demand that a meeting is held with representatives from the university’s School of Education and Human Development.
‘I let her know I didn’t think she was qualified to teach a class about positive learning environments. It’s the ultimate irony,’ Leibiger said to Fox News.
In spite of the fact that a restorative justice meeting was held, Professor Hammer did not alter his position.
Because they were of the opinion that Hammer was transphobic, the class’s twenty-dozen graduate students persisted in their demand that the university removes her as an instructor.
Students are now refusing to return to the classroom in which she teaches, and they will only attend class if a new educator is appointed.
In order to become a certified educator in the state of Maine and finish the graduate-level Extended Teacher Education Program, you are going to need to take this class.
‘We are aware of this situation and are taking steps to provide students with the support needed,’ Interim Provost Adam Tuchinsky told the Bangor Daily News.
Another student suggested that Hammer either participate in diversity training or simply retire.
The university has recently proposed the creation of an ‘alternative’ section for the class; however, they have stated that the professor will not be replaced.
‘We have developed an alternative plan for this class and will be opening a new section of this course for those students who would like to move. The original section taught by professor Hammer will continue for any student who wishes to remain in that class,’ a university spokesperson said.
The administrators of the university have not divulged any information regarding the number of students who will be moving up to the next class.
‘It’s our job as educators to grow and change, address our biases, and above all else, protect every one of our students,’ Leibiger said. ‘I think that the next step USM needs to take is being clear what accountability will look like for Christy Hammer.’
Due to the fact that almost 2,000 people have signed a petition urging Hammer to keep her job, it would appear that there are a significant number of individuals who are pleased to support her position.
Campuses all over the United States are still being torn apart by ongoing debates and conflicts regarding sexuality and gender identity. People who advocate for transgender rights often state that they want to increase equality and visibility for a marginalized group that is particularly susceptible to discrimination.
Critics have compared the issue to a craze, which they say is eroding women’s rights and convincing young people to seek potentially irreversible medical treatments, which it is feared they could one day regret.
