Advanced

Jon Zubieta, Syracuse University

From August 2020 to February 2021
Syracuse University (Public college or university)
Syracuse, New York

Identity of Speakers

  • Jon Zubieta
    Faculty/Staff
    Other

    Jon Zubieta is a professor of inorganic chemistry at Syracuse University.

Additional Information

  • Incident Nature:
    Classroom
    Other course-related event
  • Incident Political Orientation:
    Neither
  • Incident Responses:
    Faculty sanctioned
  • Incident Status:
    No litigation
  • No protest Occured
  • Did not involve Speech Codes

Summary

Jon Zubieta a professor of inorganic chemistry at Syracuse University. In August 2020, Zubieta circulated a syllabus that included “Wuhan Flu or Chinese Communist Party Virus” in the section explaining university regulations in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. The syllabus went viral and drew the ire of faculty, staff, and students; over 300 Syracuse faculty and staff signed a statement expressing support for Chinese students and condemning Zubieta’s language on his syllabus. Syracuse issued a statement on “offensive” language and banned Zubieta from the classroom pending the results of an investigation. On September 22, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education wrote to Syracuse “to remind administrators that although private institutions are not bound by the First Amendment, Syracuse is required to uphold its many laudable promises of free expression.” Finally, in February, 2021, Zubieta was reinstated to his teaching role.