Rutgers announces punishment for professor accused of anti-Semitic rants

A Rutgers professor accused of posting anti-Semitic posts on his Facebook page over several months earlier this year will lose his role as a director and will no longer be allowed to teach required classes, officials announced. The school is also seeking further punishments under its faculty agreement.

Michael Chikindas, a veteran professor in the food science department, reportedly posted dozens of anti-Jewish and anti-Israel comments on his page over several months, including some saying the Armenian genocide was orchestrated by Jews.

Chikindas claimed his Facebook page was hacked but did not deny sharing some of the cartoons, images and comments considered anti-Semitic.

Rutgers President Robert Barchi said Chikindas will no longer teach required courses and will be removed from his post as director of the Center for Digestive Health at the Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health. Chikindas, a Rutgers professor since 1998 who earned tenure in 2007, will undergo cultural sensitivity training and will be "subject to ongoing monitoring if and when he returns to the classroom," Barchi said.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/education/2017/12/rutgers_professor_accused_of_anti-semitic_rants_st.html