A University of Kansas lecturer, Phil Lowcock, has been dismissed following the release of a viral video that sparked widespread backlash in that he showed the educator suggesting violence against men who wouldn’t vote for Vice President Kamala Harris due to her gender.
The incident sparked by the Harris supporter prompted an internal investigation, which ultimately led to Lowcock’s dismissal, confirmed by both university officials and Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, as Just the News reports.
Lowcock, who taught in the Department of Health, Sport & Exercise Sciences, was placed on administrative leave earlier in the week. His comments, which spread quickly on social media, came under scrutiny by the university, leading to an internal probe. On Friday, the University of Kansas confirmed that Lowcock was no longer employed at the school.
The controversy centers around a video in which Lowcock made inflammatory statements, claiming that men who refused to vote for Harris because of her gender “could be lined up and shot.” The comment came in a larger discussion about gender equality, but his words were met with swift backlash, both online and within the university.
Lowcock later defended his remarks, claiming they were intended to advocate for women’s rights and highlight the challenges faced by women in politics. However, university officials were quick to address the issue. Barbara A. Bichelmeyer, the school's provost and executive vice chancellor, issued a statement about Lowcock’s apology, acknowledging that while his intention may have been to support gender equality, his comments were unacceptable.
In the same statement, Bichelmeyer addressed the importance of free expression at the university but emphasized that violent rhetoric crosses a line. “The free expression of ideas is essential to the functioning of our university, and we fully support the academic freedom of our teachers,” she stated. “However, academic freedom is not a license for suggestions of violence like we saw in the video. Violent rhetoric is never acceptable.”
Lowcock’s departure comes after mounting pressure, including public criticism from Kansas GOP Senator Roger Marshall, who expressed relief over the decision. “I am glad to report that the professor who called for men to be 'lined up and shot,' declaring open season on people who don’t plan to vote for Kamala Harris, is no longer an employee at KU,” Marshall said.
Lowcock's comments have reignited ongoing national debates around free speech, academic freedom, and the boundaries of acceptable discourse within higher education. While universities often defend the open exchange of ideas, situations like this force them to confront the difficult balance between allowing free speech and preventing harm.
In the days following the video’s release, many took to social media to express their outrage, with some calling for Lowcock’s removal, while others argued that the university should have handled the situation with more leniency. Lowcock, in a statement defending his comments, reiterated that his frustration was with men who hold outdated views on gender and leadership. “If you think 'guys are smarter than girls, you've got some serious problems,” Lowcock said in the video. He further explained that his extreme language was meant to highlight the absurdity of such views, though he acknowledged that it was poorly executed.
As news of Lowcock’s dismissal spread, political figures such as Sen. Marshall weighed in on the situation, further fueling the debate. While many applauded the university’s decision to cut ties with Lowcock, others questioned whether his remarks, though ill-advised, warranted termination.
Lowcock’s supporters have pointed to his longstanding advocacy for gender equality as evidence that his comments were taken out of context, but the university made clear that any suggestion of violence, no matter the intent, would not be tolerated.
The decision to part ways with Lowcock marks the culmination of several days of public and internal discussions about the incident. The university will likely continue to grapple with the fallout from this event as it works to rebuild trust with its students and faculty.
As for Lowcock, his future remains uncertain. Although he has publicly apologized for his remarks, his professional standing has been significantly affected by the controversy. Whether or not he will continue his work in academia is yet to be seen. In the meantime, the University of Kansas has made it clear that it will continue to uphold its values, even in the face of difficult situations like this one.
