Texas Tech System, TTUHSC release statement after suspending employee for antisemitic posts

The Texas Tech Health Sciences Center and the Texas Tech System issued a statement Saturday after suspending an employee officials say made "hateful, antisemitic and unacceptable" remarks.

TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman and TTUS Chancellor Dr. Tedd Mitchell issued a joint statement saying that Rudy Meixell, a unit manager in the library on the Lubbock campus at TTUHSC, posted a series of social media comments that were brought to the attention of the two institutions yesterday.

The system found that the comments violated TTU System Regulation 01.05 , which states — each university within the system and the system administration are "committed to ethical behavior and respect for all in support of a values-based culture."

Meixell has been suspended with pay pending an investigation by the system's Office of Equal Opportunity, which will investigate whether any of the antisemitic sentiments expressed by Meixell’s social media comments have found their way into the academic or the work environment and are deemed to be discriminatory harassment.

"We take the First Amendment’s application to public universities seriously; however, we are also committed to providing a safe learning and working environment that is free from harassment, including antisemitic harassment, and will not tolerate behavior that crosses the line into harassment and interferes with or limits the ability of an individual to participate in the educational activities of TTUHSC," reads the joint statement.

The system stated that if the alleged discriminatory harassment has occurred, TTUHSC will take prompt and effective action.

"TTUHSC is committed to the success and safety of its students, staff and faculty. If a member of the TTUHSC community is aware of any discriminatory harassment, including antisemitic harassment, it can be reported directly to OEO via the process outlined in TTUHSC OP 51.02 and the matter will be investigated," reads the join statement.

As the investigation is underway, TTUS and TTUHSC stated that they will provide no further comment on the matter.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech System, TTUHSC release statement after suspending employee for antisemitic posts