EDITOR’S NOTE: We asked two of Associate Professor of Psychology John Broida’s former students to share their experience in his classroom. Broida was recently accused of making racist and homophobic remarks on videotaped lectures circulated to students. A University spokesperson said Broida intentionally tries to provoke students as part of his teaching style.
Lauren Carr
junior psychology major
She’d always take two aspirin before Broida’s class.
“He was always loud and in your face,” said Lauren Carr, a junior psychology major. “I’ve always sat in the front row in every other class, but I’d never sit in the front row in that one.”
She said though Broida’s style is unorthodox, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
“Most of the psychology professors will just stand there and lecture,” said Carr. “Sometimes his style is too extreme, but I know I personally learn a lot more when I’m asked questions. He makes you think. He just doesn’t regurgitate what’s in the book.”
Carr took a research methods class with Broida during the fall semester of this academic year. He even asked her to be his TA this semester, but she declined because of schedule issues.
Carr said she doesn’t remember hearing any racist or homophobic remarks in Broida’s class. She also said she would often question his statements during class.
“I have no problem . voicing my opinion, but I can see if you’re shy or quiet or new to the University it may be difficult to challenge him,” she said. “Sometimes you just have to talk over him and make him listen. That impresses him. I agree you shouldn’t have to yell to get your point across, but that’s just the way he is.”
Carr said that Broida makes a point of encouraging students to question professors.
“He said that there are no facts in life and you need to question everything you hear from your professor,” she said.
Outside the classroom Carr said Broida was very accessible and helped her whenever she needed it.
“I know a lot people say he’s a jerk, but he really does care about his students,” she said. “Out of any class I’ve had at USM he’s by far the most accessible professor. He’d get back to me in 10 minutes.”
Carr remembered Broida offering to help her choose classes for this semester. She said he even made some suggestions about graduate schools.
“He didn’t have to do that,” she said. “He’s dedicated to his work above all.”
She said that maybe he was trying to engage the class when in a videotaped lecture he asked, “Do you know that on average blacks have a lower IQ than whites?”
“I’m not saying it’s right,” said Carr. “Maybe he was just presenting something about the race issue and waiting for someone to pounce on it and say, ‘Where’s your proof, John Broida?'”
Carr said she sometimes feels uncomfortable talking to people about Broida.
“I feel like so many people absolutely hate him and want him gone and I don’t think that’s the answer. I sometimes feel targeted for not thinking he’s a terrible person,” she said.
She said overall she enjoyed Broida’s class.
“The experiences I learned will definitely help me in my future. I’m glad I took the class.”
Carr added that even though she didn’t have a problem with Broida’s teaching style, she thinks his comments should be thoroughly investigated. She also thinks students should be involved in the investigation in addition to the four-member committee of faculty members that has been appointed by the Provost.
“It seems like a no-brainer that students should be on the committee,” she said.
Taylor Probst
graduated with a degree in Women’s Studies
Taylor Probst was a psychology major when she came to USM. But after taking one class with Associate Professor of Psychology John Broida she dropped psychology to focus on a degree in women’s studies.
She said she left Broida’s class after just two months because of racist and homophobic remarks he used in the first two weeks of class.
“He said something about blacks are inferior to whites and something about the pigment in the skin color,” recalled Probst. “A woman tried to argue with him about it and he kept cutting her off saying ‘Where’s your proof?'”
Probst said the interaction was very intimidating and in effect silenced the class.
“There was no room for discussion,” said Probst. “He was asking for proof. But unless a student has background in that area, how are they going to have proof?”
At the time, Probst was at USM as part of a national exchange program. She said her status as a non-matriculated student made her feel uncomfortable about voicing her concerns directly to Broida.
Instead, she looked into taking the class with another professor, but found the course wasn’t offered with anyone else. She spent another month or so in the class, but eventually dropped it and the psychology major altogether.
Probst said Broida’s teaching style is unique.
“I think part of it is that he wants to provoke people,” she said. “I think he’s a person that likes attention.”
Probst said there’s nothing wrong with being provocative, but that Broida crossed the line.
“He doesn’t do it in a way that educates people. He does it in an authoritative way,” she said. “He’s a teacher and he has power over students. The fact that he’s in a power position makes the way that he puts out these provocative thoughts wrong.”
She said Broida should have been more up-front about his intentions.
“He never stated openly that he was doing it to provoke us. He never made it an open forum for us to challenge him or even talk about it. And he never even acknowledged that the comments were racist.”
Probst, who is a member of USM’s GLBTQA community, said other classmates didn’t seem offended by the statements. She said a lot of them probably let things go over their head because the comments weren’t about them or their specific backgrounds.
“But as a person who is very aware of racism and homophobia and sexism, I walk around in my life as an oppressed person, so I know when something doesn’t sound right,” she said.
Probst said Broida wasn’t all bad. He seemed to be very organized and knowledgeable about the subject. But she said his comments earlier in the class prevented her from being able to concentrate.
“If he doesn’t leave room for conversation or response, that is not a learning environment,” she said.
Executive Editor Steve Peoples can be contacted at: [email protected]