The reaction is not this guys fault, per se, the REACTION is BECAUSE of the thousands of events over the past few years involving mass shootings.

. . . especially in this day and age.

joking or not. And this guy is a university president?

God!

Before mass shootings were a daily occurrence, hearing that comment would have a different meaning.

and this is the first time anyone has objected to it."

And this is not an overly PC reaction to his remarks, in my opinion. This guy actually does not appear to see anything wrong with repeatedly threatening to kill staff, however kiddingly.

He is completely unqualified. The Board of Regents in Iowa conducted a sham process where he was the predetermined hire. It was disgraceful.

Google Bruce Harreld and read the newspaper articles about him, including the ones that were published yesterday after the report on the investigation conducted by the AAUP (American Association of University Professors) in which they concluded that the process involving his hiring was a farce.

The man has no background whatsoever in University administration. At his first public meeting at the University before his hiring was announced, he answered a question concerning sexual assault on college campuses by stating "I have a two letter solution: NO."
He is a corporate hack who knows nothing about the running of a university, the problems of university students, or the needs of the faculty. He needs to do everyone a favor and resign.

seeing academic positions being filled with business executives makes me crazy!

I can't wait to get out. And I'm only 38.

Your post explains why he would make such an ignorant comment.

Somebody had to say it.

(insert sarcasm, just kiddings, and apologies if anyone was offended)

(this is not intended to incite violence of any kind upon anyone)

The problem is what he is and what he is paid to be it.

You would think a librarian would understand hyperbole.

Not with a mouth like that.

Iowa has turned into this wonderful place where we keep electing the same corrupt politicians. Governor for life Branstad picks a rich fuck to run the Board of regents and to do his bidding and ruin the U of I. Payback for that liberal campus.

so we will have him until there is some kind of mass upheavel. Better chance that Mount Rainier will relocate to Iowa

But never underestimate the possibility of an arrogant, wealthy individual going into full self-destruct mode. Here's hoping.....

... rather than just accepting them as "part of daily life in America" and
having a hissy fit about some idiot making a tasteless comment instead ...

"Frankly, I have used the comment in many, many forums and this is the first time anyone has objected to it. I apologize and appreciate your calling my attention to it," Harreld wrote.

When all it required was, "In light of the times and in retrospect I see where it was a bad choice of words and I apologize."

And it was not just tone deaf on the issue of shootings on University campuses (including his own--see above), but it also reveals a contempt for faculty. As an academic, I am sick of university administrators who do not come from an academic background, and sadly some who do, treating the faculty who are highly trained and often underpaid, as if they are a bunch of spoiled, recalcitrant children.

sometimes teachers are, but this is tone deaf!!!