Cal State San Marcos Lecturer No Longer in Classroom After Viral Clash Over Native American Question

Adriana Stone 0 2 min read

Cal State San Marcos Lecturer No Longer in Classroom After Viral Clash Over Native American Question

A lecturer at California State University San Marcos is no longer in the classroom after a video showed a heated confrontation with a student. The dispute reportedly began when the student asked a question about alcoholism among Native Americans.

The clip quickly spread online. It appears to show the lecturer ordering the student to leave while using profanity. Other students can then be heard trying to explain that they believed the question was genuine.

The College Fix reported that the university confirmed the lecturer was “no longer in the classroom.” The report described the incident as involving an ethnic studies lecturer who angrily removed a student after he allegedly asked about problems with alcoholism in Native American tribes.

There is also a major caveat. The lecturer told The College Fix that the video was “heavily edited.” That means the clip does not necessarily show the entire exchange or all of the context leading up to the confrontation. Still, the university has acknowledged the incident and confirmed that the lecturer is no longer in the classroom.

The video begins with the lecturer saying “no you’re not, no you’re not” as the student appears to say “I’m sorry.” She then says, “So get up and get the f— out of my class right now,” before directing him out.

Another portion of the video shows the lecturer saying: “You did this sh– on purpose, you are out of my class. I am dropping you.” The footage does not establish what the student intended by his question, but it does show a classroom exchange that escalated rapidly.

Students at Cal State San Marcos are required to take an ethnic studies course as part of their graduation requirements. That makes the incident especially significant for students who may be required to participate in classes covering sensitive historical and cultural subjects.

Neither the university nor the video identified the lecturer by name. Comments on TikTok identified her as Persephone Lewis, an ethnic studies lecturer, but that identification was not made by the university in its public statement.

University spokesperson Jerry McCormick declined to comment beyond a prepared statement. The school said, “The lecturer is no longer in the classroom,” and added, “Cal State San Marcos is aware of the situation involving a lecturer and a student in a classroom.”

The university also said, “We continue to review the circumstances and context surrounding the incident.” Its broader statement said, “CSUSM works to maintain respectful learning environments that support inquiry and meaningful discussion. CSUSM is committed to providing a safe and welcoming space where all members of our community can learn, grow, and thrive.”

A post from AmyButtermaker, using the handle @Amy_Buttermaker, included the video:

The university’s wording confirms a classroom change, but it does not announce that the lecturer was fired or explain what additional action may follow. For now, the school says it is still reviewing the circumstances while the video draws attention to how colleges handle difficult questions and classroom disputes.

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