The University of Delaware has severed its relationship with an adjunct faculty member who criticized Otto Warmbier, the University of Virginia student who died last week after North Korea detained him for 17 months, according to a news release.
Delaware had previously denounced the remarks by Katherine A. Dettwyler, an adjunct lecturer in anthropology. In the comments section of a National Review article and on her Facebook page, Ms. Dettwyler wrote in posts that have since been removed that Mr. Warmbier is “typical of the mind-set of a lot of the young, white, rich, clueless males who come into my classes.”
“Is it wrong of me to think that Otto Warmbier got exactly what he deserved?” she asked.
Ms. Dettwyler’s comments drew outrage on the internet, and many critics flooded Delaware’s Facebook page with calls for the institution to fire the adjunct.
In its latest statement, the university indicated Ms. Dettwyler had taught at the institution in the spring, but she would not be hired in the future. Delaware had said Ms. Dettwyler’s remarks do not represent the university.
“We condemn any and all messages that endorse hatred and convey insensitivity toward a tragic event such as the one that Otto Warmbier and his family suffered,” the university said in a previous statement.
Ms. Dettwyler declined to comment on the situation.
“Because of all the death threats directed at me and members of my extended family, I have made the decision not to speak on the record to anyone in the media,” she wrote to The Chronicle.
