5 @# D# u+ f& O& Q' @UCSD professor apologizes for web site slur Y$ L9 D) ]+ r4 Q& t3 d( r6 w. e0 C7 o
May 24, 2011 7 x8 x9 X8 P' c3 R 9 p3 Z1 p' ~7 m: T4 V( |$ kClifford Kubiak, a professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California San Diego, has posted an apology for an offensive term that was used on his laboratory’s website. 2 k; j& _( J1 |& L) J* B6 A! n) M4 ~5 U; t* B4 v# [
In a list of “lab rules,” apparently meant to be humorous, there was the phrase: “Don’t believe anything the Chinaman says.”1 ~; P/ i3 E& ]# B2 i4 |
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The existence of the web page was disclosed on an Internet forum for Chinese speaking academics.& A1 S W1 L" g. E
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University officials took the site down as soon as they learned of it and issued an apology late Monday. : w. h* V3 \ Z J- Y ; U6 o5 u; }, t bKubiak’s message, posted on his lab website, reads: + L$ M9 Q( _; z: s; p3 y3 O B+ c 1 T0 [, y4 e: Y4 }7 }5 @4 s“Please accept my personal and sincere apologies for the insensitive language recently found on my laboratory’s website. I find the language offensive and I am embarrassed by the poor judgment exhibited in posting the offending language. Although I was unaware of the existence of this page until it was brought to my attention, I accept full responsibility. I have taken steps to remove the offending language and will arrange for appropriate training for my research group and me relative to the UCSD Principles of Community.”
