College professor seen on video berating hard of hearing student

OXNARD, Calif. (KTLA) – A tenured instructor at Oxnard College, identified by students as Michael Abram, has been placed on administrative leave after a confrontation with a student on Thursday.

In a video that has gone viral since the Zoom class reunion, a student can be heard telling Abram that she is hard of hearing.

“Ms. Salazar I spoke to you, Ms. Salazar,” the Oxnard College instructor can be heard saying.

“I can hear you a bit,” she replies.

“Can you hear me a little?” Why didn’t you answer all the time that I spoke to you then? Abram, who teaches anatomy and physiology, said.

“I’m hard of hearing,” she says as he continues to speak.

“Why don’t we talk sometimes? Why don’t you write to me? We’re going to set up Live Zoom and we’ll have real communication at some point, ”the instructor said aggressively. “Maybe you can ask your advisor to join us. “

At this point, another student intervenes.

“Teacher? She’s actually hard of hearing. So her translator is arriving a bit late. She can’t answer right away,” said the student.

To which the instructor responds, “She’s not paying attention. She’s not trying. Are you his translator? “

“No, I’m not… but it’s slower on her end because she needs to have it translated, and then it goes through her hearing aid,” she says.

“Mrs. Salazar, ask your advisor to talk to me because you’re too distracted to even understand what’s going on,” he says.

The Ventura County Community College District, which oversees Oxnard, Moorpark and Ventura Colleges, said it had received hundreds of calls and emails alerting them to the video.

“A lot of people are understandably angry, upset and saddened by what they saw in the video,” said Greg Gillespie, the district chancellor.

The district held a media Zoom call on Friday and announced that a formal investigation was immediately opened. Abram has been placed on paid leave until the investigation is completed, they said, adding that it could take three months.

“The video itself is heartbreaking,” said Luis Sanchez, president of Oxnard College. “No matter what led to this interaction, there is no justification… It horrified me.”

District officials declined to say whether there had been any complaints against Abram in the past.

“We’re here to support the students,” Gillespie said during the briefing. “We do not tolerate discriminatory, rude or intimidating behavior. “

District officials said they had contacted the student to offer support, and other students in the class should be interviewed during the investigation.

Professors are trained to work with a diverse student body, officials said, admitting that the video shows more work needs to be done in this regard.

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