Duke official steps down after telling students to speak English
The academic said in an email that two faculty members were "disappointed that these students were not taking the opportunity to improve their English."
Jan. 27, 2019, 1:09 AM CST
By Dennis Romero
The director of graduate studies for a Duke University School of Medicine department stepped down Saturday after screenshots of an email reported to be from her circulated on social media, suggesting students refrain from speaking Chinese to "improve their English."
"I encourage you to commit to using English 100 percent of the time" on campus or in professional settings, the email states.
Medical school dean Mary E. Klotman apologized to her students for the email, sent out by Megan Neely, director of the Master of Biostatics Program.
"Dr. Neely has asked to step down as director of graduate studies for the master’s program effective immediately," Klotman said in a letter.
Neely's email, verified with a Duke spokesman by the campus newspaper, the Chronicle, said that two faculty members approached Neely to express disappointment that first-year students were speaking Chinese in student study and lounge areas.
"They were disappointed that these students were not taking the opportunity to improve their English and were being so impolite as to have a conversation that not everyone on the floor could understand," the email reads.
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