Original Blog Entry: Professor tells college Republicans: "F--YOU!"

truesee — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 23:29:57 GMT

Iowa professor, Ellen Lewin, under fire for vulgar email telling college Republicans: 'F--- YOU!'

Philip Caulfield

DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Thursday, April 21st 2011, 1:16 PM

Getty

Ellen Lewin, a professor at the University of Iowa, above, apologized after sending a vulgar email to the school's Republican group. SEE THE EMAIL BELOW

Lewin teaches anthropology and gender and women's sexuality courses.

A liberal University of Iowa sex professor has a message for the school's conservatives: F--- YOU!

Professor Ellen Lewin said as much in a response to a mass email from a campus Republican group promoting Conservative Coming Out Week.

In the email on Monday morning, the UI College Republicans called for conservatives in Iowa City to come out of the closet and promote right-wing values that week.

The events included a screening of the 2002 film Journey's with George, in honor of George W. Bush, a Red vs. Blue kickball game and blood drive and an Animal Rights BBQ.

Less than one minute after the email was sent, Lewin fired back a blistering response: F-YOU, REPUBLICANS.

SEE THE EMAIL BELOW

The message was addressed to UI College Republicans and included Lewin's email signature identifying her as a professor of anthropology, gender and women's sexuality studies.

After a flurry of responses and a complaint from the group's student leader, Lewin sent two emails explaining the gaffe, according to the Iowa City Press-Citizen.

This is a time when political passions are inflamed, and when I received your unsolicited email, I had just finished reading some newspaper accounts of fresh outrages committed by Republicans I admit the language was inappropriate, and apologize for any affront to anyone's delicate sensibilities, she wrote.

She also asked the group not to send mass emails in the future.

In a second message, Lewin called the conservative group's email disturbing and offensive because it used the term coming out, promoted an Animal Rights BBQ, and made a lighthearted reference to the recent union protests in Wisconsin.

She also slammed the student president of the group for calling her Ellen, rather than Professor Lewin.

University of Iowa President Sally Mason said in an email to the school that the university embraced diversity and urged faculty and staff to be respectful. Her email didn't specifically mention the Lewin or the conservative group.

Lewin admitted to the Des Moines Register that she lost her temper.

LINK TO EMAIL STRING:

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/section/documentcloud dckeyword=85920-university-of-iowa-emails

The apology was sincere, she said. I hope those apologies and my commitment to not reheat such behavior can put the matter to rest.

The UI College Republicans email, and Lewin's response, less than a minute later.

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