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Over the years, Western Washington University professor Perry Mills has referred to an overweight student as a "400-pound canary who warbles nothingness"; slapped the nickname "Precious" on a male colleague he believed to be gay; and called a female colleague a "bimbo" and "slut" to her face.
Those remarks were just for starters, according to university records.
Mills, 67, who has taught for more than 20 years in Western's drama department, says he has no recollection of making some of the statements, or never made them. At one point, in an interview with The Seattle Times, he said the university relied on "vacuous lickspittles" to make him look bad.
...Other students describe him as a bully who hurls brutal words simply for his personal enjoyment, at their expense. Faculty and staff have complained of similar behavior. At faculty meetings, Mills purportedly referred to colleagues as "idiots," "maggots" and "the usual."
One of the most serious complaints stemmed from his treatment of a student who returned to school in 2004 after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was still bald from chemotherapy, facing "insecurities every day," according to university records.
When the student balked at presenting a playwriting piece in class, Mills responded with words to the effect that she might as well have died.
Exactly what was said was the subject of disagreement. But before the faculty panel, Mills acknowledged he said something like, "If you don't put up your work, it's just as if you died of cancer and aren't here at all."
...Mills admitted during the hearing to using derogatory terms toward colleagues but couldn't recall some of the specific remarks attributed to him. With students, Mills said, provocation is part of his personality, which he had used to prod students. But he denied berating and demeaning students and colleagues.
Anybody want to invite this guy to a conference?
Those remarks were just for starters, according to university records.
Mills, 67, who has taught for more than 20 years in Western's drama department, says he has no recollection of making some of the statements, or never made them. At one point, in an interview with The Seattle Times, he said the university relied on "vacuous lickspittles" to make him look bad.
...Other students describe him as a bully who hurls brutal words simply for his personal enjoyment, at their expense. Faculty and staff have complained of similar behavior. At faculty meetings, Mills purportedly referred to colleagues as "idiots," "maggots" and "the usual."
One of the most serious complaints stemmed from his treatment of a student who returned to school in 2004 after a battle with ovarian cancer. She was still bald from chemotherapy, facing "insecurities every day," according to university records.
When the student balked at presenting a playwriting piece in class, Mills responded with words to the effect that she might as well have died.
Exactly what was said was the subject of disagreement. But before the faculty panel, Mills acknowledged he said something like, "If you don't put up your work, it's just as if you died of cancer and aren't here at all."
...Mills admitted during the hearing to using derogatory terms toward colleagues but couldn't recall some of the specific remarks attributed to him. With students, Mills said, provocation is part of his personality, which he had used to prod students. But he denied berating and demeaning students and colleagues.
Anybody want to invite this guy to a conference?
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