Faculty at North Orange County Community College District United have criticized Cypress College for failing to defend an adjunct professor captured in a viral video of an argument with a student about the police.
The union wrote, “The statement issued by Cypress College on April 30th, 2021, was not supportive enough of our faculty. The choice of language and the information included has left some of our members uncertain and confused.”
The statement goes on to reveal that Cypress had to go as far as to cancel on-campus classes “due to safety concerns for employees and students, as some have become targets for verbal abuse, harassment, and potential threats to their physical safety and the safety of their families.”
Director of Campus Communications, Marc S Posner, revealed in a statement issued on April 30 that the professor will be “taking a leave of absence for the duration of her assignment at Cypress College.”
“This was her first course at Cypress and she had previously indicated her intention to not return in the fall,” he explained.
Depicting Cops as Heroes
The professor, whose name was not publicly released, confronted 19-year-old Braden Ellis when he shared his opinion that the police are “heroes” during a presentation arguing against cancel culture.
WATCH: A student at Cypress College in California was berated by his professor for arguing that police are heroes and belong on children's shows. pic.twitter.com/FSu4J2YxwK
— Chrissy Clark (@chrissyclark_) April 29, 2021
In the presentation, Ellis defended television shows depicting police officers in a good light, such as “Cops” and “Paw Patrol.” He argued that removing these depictions would discourage children from taking that career path in the future.
“I think cops are heroes and they have to have a difficult job,” he explained, before the professor cut him off.
“All of them?” she asked.
“I’d say a good majority of them. You have bad people in every business,” Ellis replied.
“Officers have committed atrocious crimes and have gotten away with it and have never been convicted of any of it, and I speak as a person who has family members who are police officers,” she retaliated.
Subsequent Media Attention For Ellis
After the video of the exchange went viral, multiple conservatives praised Ellis on Twitter for his composure. Ellis has since appeared for interviews on Newsmax and Fox News.
Interview with @gregkellyusa on @newsmax ! Thank you and God bless our country and law enforcement🇺🇸!#GodBlessAmerica pic.twitter.com/bqaGzj9NVS
— BRADEN J. ELLIS (@TheBradenEllis) May 5, 2021
Ellis told Fox News that he made it a point to remain “calm and respectful and gentle with her arguments.”
“Don’t be afraid to speak out against what they teach in college. We as Republicans need to remember that we have strong policies, and we need to remain strong and tough but do it with gentleness and respect,” he said.