Uni tutor slammed for alleged N-word use

A Monash University tutor is under fire after allegedly using the N-word “quite liberally” in a recent class, as the uni launches an investigation.

A university tutor is under investigation after allegedly using the N-word ‘liberally’ during a tutorial. Picture: Supplied.

A Monash University tutor is under investigation after allegedly repeatedly using a racial slur during one of his classes.

Teaching associate Gary Lacey has been accused of using the N-word “quite liberally” in a tutorial for the “From Freud to Friends: Ethnic Identity in Popular Culture” course a the university’s Clayton campus on Monday.

It’s understood Mr Lacey used the slur for the “purpose of analysis”, and argued his wife was Kenyan and so he was “allowed” to say it.

The class covers ways in which ethnic identities have been represented in popular culture through the 20th Century, taking case studies from representations of Jews, Italians, African-Americans and Asian-Americans.

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Monash University students were outraged after Teaching Associate Gary Lacey allegedly repeatedly used the N-word during a popular culture class. Picture: Monash University

Student Meredith Leviston, who attended Mr Lacey’s second class of the day, said the tutor repeated the slur after being criticised for using it.

“The tutor received a phone call from the unit co-ordinator who hung up after being informed that the tutor was in the middle of teaching,” Ms Leviston told the Herald Sun.

“After that he said to the whole class, ‘That was probably about a student who got offended by my use of the N-word.’ … He then proceeded to tell us about the incident.”

The unit co-ordinator sent an email to students on Monday night confirming the incident.

The incident involving popular culture lecturer Gary Lacey is under investigation. Picture: Monash University

“I’m writing to let you know that I’ve been informed of an incident that occurred in a tutorial today, and that it is currently being looked into,” the note read.

“As always, if you have any concerns, you can contact me anytime.”

Ms Leviston said she felt “very uncomfortable”.

“It made the entire class very uncomfortable including myself,” she said.

“That word has a lot of stigma surrounding it, even when used within an academic context.

“The tutor chose to use that word knowing that it is a word that is likely to offend someone and because the word was not necessarily used within the context of the discussion.”

Mr Lacey allegedly used the slur in a tutorial at the university’s Clayton campus. Picture: Google Maps

A Monash University spokesperson said a new tutor had been assigned to the class while the incident was investigated.

“The University is investigating student complaints from a recent tutorial,” they said.

“An alternative tutor has been allocated to the tutorial while the matter is being investigated.”

The spokesperson said Monash University “does not tolerate racism of any kind”.

“Monash University is committed to fostering a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for everyone and are proud of our richly diverse and culturally inclusive community,” she said.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of the entire Monash community is our priority.”

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