Editor's note: Contains language that may be inappropriate for some readers. Discretion advised.
VISALIA, Calif. — A California State University, Fresno professor's rant about Barbara Bush being an "amazing racist" might land her in hot water.
Her tenure status might not save her career, school officials said.
Randa Jarrar, an English professor at the central California university, began her more than five-hour Twitter firestorm within an hour of the official announcement of Bush's death on Tuesday.
"Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who along with her husband, raised a war criminal," Jarrar wrote. "[Expletive] outta here with your nice words."
She went on to call Bush a "witch" and wished "the rest of her family to fall to their demise."
Twitter users immediately called on Fresno State President Joseph I. Castro to address the professor's tweets.
Jarrar fired back, offering up Castro's Twitter handle.
"What I love about being an American professor is my right to free speech, and what I love about Fresno State is that I always feel protected and at home here," she wrote. "GO BULLDOGS!"
Jarrar also stated she is a tenured professor and could not be fired.
Castro released a statement Tuesday evening, assuring Jarrar's comments were "contrary to the core values of the university."
“On behalf of Fresno State, I extend my deepest condolences to the Bush family on the loss of our former First Lady, Barbara Bush," Castro wrote. "We share the deep concerns expressed by others over the personal comments made today by Professor Randa Jarrar, a professor in the English Department at Fresno State. Her statements were made as a private citizen, not as a representative of Fresno State."
Castro's statement continued.
"Professor Jarrar’s expressed personal views and commentary are obviously contrary to the core values of our University, which include respect and empathy for individuals with divergent points of view, and a sincere commitment to mutual understanding and progress.”
Jarrar's Twitter account is now private, but users are still posting screenshots of her comments.
While most have urged for discipline, some have supported Jarrar's posts.
Bush was criticized by some after Hurricane Katrina for comments stating the refugees who were in the Houston Astrodome were "underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them."
Some saw her comments as a knock to the thousands of black people forced from their homes.
Jarrar made reference to Bush's 2005 comments, but didn't go into specifics before making her account private.
Jarrar's profile states: "Currently on leave from Fresno State. This is my private account and represents my opinions."
Jarrar began her leave of absence this spring, according to Patti Waid, director of university communications.
"She requested a leave of absence for the spring 2018 semester, so she is currently not teaching any courses on campus this semester," Waid said.
Fresno State officials held a press conference Wednesday morning to address the tweets.
University Provost Lynnette Zelezny assured Jarrar's comments were her own and did not reflect the views or core values of the university, which educates more than 24,000 students.
The university holds First Amendment forums every semester.
“We talk about the responsibility and not just to our faculty but to our staff and students as well. We talk about the responsibility of the First Amendment,” Zelenzy said. “We do encourage the fact that all voices do matter but again we are a community where we respect all diverse opinions and diverse thoughts. We very much do want to hear the voices of others, but we again want it to be in a climate of respect.”
Fresno State officials are moving forward with a review of Jarrar, Zelenzy said. Jarrar was hired in August 2010.
"The university is a public institution and must follow certain specific procedures in addressing personnel matters, which this is, and we will strictly follow these procedures," Zelezny said. "Fresno State will allow applicable law, policy and requirements of the faculty collective bargaining agreement to unfold."
Being tenured may not save the teacher from being reprimanded. A Fresno State history professor was disciplined last year after he stated on Twitter that President Donald Trump "must hang".
"There are certain processes we have to follow but there are, certainly, situations where a tenured faculty person can be fired," Zelenzy said.
Because it is a personnel matter, the outcome of the review will not be shared with the public, Zelenzy added.
