Students in a physics class at Northern Illinois University were warned that refusing to wear a mask in class “is a manifestation of ableism and racism,” according to a tip received through Young America’s Foundation’s Campus Bias Tip Line.
Despite the institution dropping its mask mandate more than six months ago, NIU professor Jahred Adelman has chosen to require masks in his classroom, and shame those who disagree with his sentiment.
“Masks are required AT ALL times in PHYS 253. Here and in your labs. It is not pleasant, but it is for your health and safety, my health and safety, and the health and safety of your friends and colleagues. If you do not follow this requirement, you will be asked to leave,” Adelman wrote in the course syllabus, of which YAF obtained a copy.
The next several pages of the syllabus feature photoshopped images of historical scientists wearing various types of face coverings.
Adelman has taught at Northern Illinois University since 2014, and has been serving as Director of Graduate Studies in the Physics Department for the past two years.
Throughout the past two years, Adelman has frequently tweeted his mask-related frustrations and bragged about filing reports against unmasked individuals on the train–sometimes, even claiming to have confronted them.
“He seems a bit emotionally unstable,” one of his students, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told YAF.
According to the student, Adelman is the only professor who teaches this required course at NIU, leaving those looking for a more normal learning experience out of luck.
The outlandish claim that not wearing a mask is “a manifestation of racism” appears to be a somewhat fringe belief. A search was only able to return one brief letter to the editor of the Los Angeles Times making the same claim.
When asked whether the university agrees with Adelman’s characterization of maskless individuals, a spokesperson responded, “Dr. Adelman’s comments reflect his personal opinion.”
“I have no comment for you. My syllabus stands on its own,” Adelman told YAF in an email.
Though not all professors go so far as Adelman to imply that their students are racists when they’re not wearing masks, there are hundreds of professors like him throughout the country who are dead-set on advancing the woke agenda. Unfortunately, many students are left without alternatives, and they’re bullied into submission. It’s important that we, as conservatives, push back against this sort of nonsense.
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