FARMVILLE, Va. — The Hampden-Sydney professor who said he was terminated because of his outspoken stance on the transgender/bathroom bill, has been given his job back, the school announced late Thursday afternoon.
“After discussions with Hampden-Sydney College, Gen. Jerry Boykin has accepted another year’s contract to teach in the College’s Military Leadership and National Security minor as Wheat Professor. Boykin stated, he “loves the college and its students and would be honored to teach for another year.”
Lieutenant General William “Jerry” Boykin made headlines recently after a Facebook post where he weighed in on the national issue over whether transgender men and woman should be given access to bathrooms based on their birth gender or the gender they identify.
“The first man who goes in the restroom with my daughter will not have to worry about surgery,” Boykin said was the comment that cost him his job.
“The bottom line is that I oppose these so called “#Bathroom” bills that let men go into women’s locker rooms, showers, and toilets and I have been very public about it,” Boykin wrote.
The retired military veteran was a Wheat Professor in the College’s Military Leadership and National Security minor program.
Boykin, who had been with Hampden-Sydney for nine years, said he had no ill will towards the school, but said the university ‘is changing’ and has bowed down to outside pressure and that cost him his job.
Wednesday, the university responded to Boykins claims saying misinformation was circulating around Boykin’s departure from the school.
“General Boykin was a part-time adjunct faculty member serving as the Wheat Professor, employed on a year-to-year basis. The Wheat Professorship was created to be a rotating position, allowing Hampden-Sydney to bring distinguished individuals from a wide variety of professional backgrounds to the campus. Given the rotating nature of the Wheat Professorship, it is inaccurate to suggest that General Boykin was fired.”
In Thursday’s Facebook post announcing General Boykin’s return, Hampden Sydney said Interim President Dennis Stevens is pleased that Boykin will be with the school for an additional year.
“At the end of the 2016-2017 academic year, the College will continue with its plan to restore the Wheat Professorship to short-term appointments in order to bring multiple perspectives on leadership to its students.”
