As the Ferris State University Board of Trustees, we are aware of comments made by Physical Sciences Assistant Professor Thomas Brennan regarding the global pandemic and suggesting exaggerated death claims from COVID-19. We take very seriously the health and safety of everyone in our campus community, and the university’s continual efforts to create a safe and healthy learning environment. We also want to publicly express our profound disappointment with this person’s reported racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic slurs allegedly made on social media. We strongly support the decision to place Dr. Brennan on administrative leave and understand an investigation into these comments is underway.
We recognize and are very proud of the significant work that has been done, and continues to be done, to make Ferris State University a safe living and learning environment during the pandemic. FSU has always embraced diversity, equity and inclusion, welcoming all; it was a founding principle of Woodridge Ferris in 1884. We are steadfast in ensuring this work continues and will not tolerate behavior that undermines this commitment or the University’s core values.
We stand strongly and proudly with the students, faculty and staff of Ferris State University in denouncing all actions that diminish, impugn, stereotype or cast aspersions on the rights and dignity of people. To do less is to fall short of the time-honored values and commitment of our University to its people and the education it provides.