Sacramento State Student, President, Professor To Discuss 'Genocide' Controversy

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) -- A Sacramento State student who claims she was kicked out of a class for using the word "genocide" will get a chance to sit down this week with her professor and the school president.

The issue started with a heated debate over genocide in the context of Native American history, but students are now speaking up over whether the discourse was discouraged in the classroom.

Until they sit down this week, both sides aren't saying much.

Ethics major Bianca Goodson says she regrets not taking a history class with professor Maury Wiseman, because she says she would have stood up to him, too.

"I would have looked it up on Google, like she did and let him know genocide is this and that so how is that not genocide when this is what happened to them? What else is it?" she said.

Cheetanibah Johnson claims she was disenrolled from the class when she insisted that Native Americans were victims of genocide.

According to Johnson's account, she stood up, quoting a United Nations definition of genocide, which he strongly disagrees with. Her professor then allegedly told Johnson she's accusing him of racism and excused class early.

"And not even blatantly calling him racist, but he took it that way? So if he got offended he shouldn't have taken it out on the student," Goodson said.

Some students say Wiseman simply dismissed class because the student was interrupting.

"If you're impeding other students' learning, then you should be removed," Stefany Ensor said.
Johnson posted a note on her front door turning down interviews.

Sacramento State spokeswoman Elisa Smith wants to be clear that Johnson was not disenrolled.

"The university policy is that a professor can't disenroll a student so she can still enroll in the class," she said.

The school's policy on disruptive student behavior in class states "A student may be dismissed by the instructor from any class period in which disruptive behavior persists following the instructor's request that it cease."

Smith says if the student doesn't want to stay in the class, the school may be able to transfer her.
Johnson is still turning down interview requests until she can resolve this with the school.