INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightDuke UniversityImage caption
The course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds
A US university professor has been removed as director of a graduate programme, amid a furore over an email she sent urging students not to
speak Chinese.Megan Neely, an assistant professor at Duke University in North Carolina, said in an email to students that two unnamed
faculty members of the biostatistics Masters programme had complained to her about students speaking Chinese in public areas in the
department.She said that not speaking English could lead to "unintended consequences" for international students.Her email went viral on
Twitter and Chinese social media, while Duke's medical faculty has promised to review its biostatistics programme.Many have criticised Dr
Neely's email as racist or insensitive, and raised concerns that faculty members were discriminating against international
students.However, some ethnic minority students on the Masters programme told the TheIndianSubcontinent they supported Dr Neely, describing
her as a supportive programme director and "definitely not a racist, not even close".What exactly happenedThe controversy erupted after
screenshots of Dr Neely's email to biostatistics students began circulating online over the weekend
Duke University confirmed to US media that the screenshots were genuine.Dr Neely said that two faculty members had asked her if she had
photos of students on the Masters programme, before picking out a number of first-year students "who they observed speaking Chinese (in
their words, VERY LOUDLY), in the student lounge/study areas".Dr Neely said that the faculty members told her "they wanted to write down the
names so they could remember them if the students ever interviewed for an internship or asked to work with them for a masters project
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."To international students," she continued, "PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep these
unintended consequences in mind when you choose to speak in Chinese in the building."She added that she respected international students for
learning "in a non-native language", but "I encourage you to commit to using English 100% of the time when you are in Hock [the faculty
building] or any other professional setting"
Image copyrightConcerned Duke StudentsImage caption
The petition was signed by 2,000 people by Sunday
Why was it so controversialThe email went viral after it was leaked online and reported in the student paper The Chronicle
Many found the language in the email patronising, while others wondered if the students had been targeted because they spoke Chinese,
rather than another foreign language.For many, however, the most concerning part of the email was the allegation that two faculty members
appeared ready to discriminate against students based on what language they spoke with their friends.A group calling themselves Concerned
Duke Students said in a petition that they were "gravely concerned" with the implication "that students of diverse national origin would be
punished in academic and employment opportunities for speaking in their native language outside of classroom settings."The group told the
TheIndianSubcontinent that more than 2,000 people had signed their petition by Sunday, including current Duke students and alumni, as well
think this is all the more reason why Duke should treat us with more respect and understanding," they said in a statement
Mary Klotman, dean of the medical school which oversees the biostatistics programme, wrote to students over the weekend, telling them:
"There is absolutely no restriction or limitation on the language you use to converse and communicate with each other
Your career opportunities and recommendations will not in any way be influenced by the language you use outside the classroom
And your privacy will always be protected."I have asked the university's Office of Institutional Equity to conduct a thorough review of
the Master of Biostatistics Programme," she added.Dr Neely, who is still in post as an assistant professor, has not yet publicly commented
on the controversy.What do her students thinkAs of Sunday night, millions on Weibo had viewed the hashtag "Duke University bans speaking
Chinese", while "Duke University professor who banned speaking Chinese resigns" was the ninth-most trending hashtag.One Weibo user described
the email as "naked racism", while another joked: "Should we also chuck out any foreign exchange students who aren't speaking Chinese on
campus, because they haven't taken advantage of the opportunity to learn Chinese in China"Meanwhile, several Twitter users began sharing Dr
Neely's faculty photo or calling for her to be fired.However, others have argued that the furore has been overblown - or that Dr Neely has
unfairly borne the brunt of the criticism.One Weibo user suggested that the email had revealed deeper issues on the programme
"I think this professor's actions may have been well intentioned, instead it might be the two faculty members who asked [for names and
photos] who are the real racists," they wrote
Three students on Duke's biostatistic masters programme, who asked not to be named, expressed support for her to the
TheIndianSubcontinent."Dr Neely is a great instructor and definitely not a racist, not even close," one Chinese student said
Another Chinese student told the TheIndianSubcontinent he had found Dr Neely "always willing to help" students of all nationalities, and
hoped the university would investigate the two unnamed faculty members mentioned in her email instead
we still know what was her intention and how much she cares about us."When some people talk loudly in foreign language, other people [in the
lounge] are definitely disturbed." The student added: "Some of my Chinese friends also told me they are worried that if they support Megan
in the public, they might be regarded as 'people who betrayed their country' by other Chinese students in the United States."
