By Ewan Palmer
News Reporter
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A professor at Georgetown University Law Center has been fired over comments she made about Black students during a Zoom call with a colleague.
Sandra Sellers, who was an adjunct professor in mediation at the esteemed law school in Washington, D.C. for nearly 20 years, was criticized after a clip of her decrying the level of performance she gets "every semester" from Black students was posted on Twitter.
"I hate to say this. I end up having this angst every semester that a lot of my lower ones are Blacks, happens almost every semester," Sellers said.
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"And it's like, 'Oh, come on.' You get some really good ones, but there are also usually some that are just plain at the bottom. It drives me crazy," she continued.
Sellers had the conversation with colleague David Batson, who appeared to nod and agree with the sentiments.
"I am appalled that two members of our faculty engaged in a conversation that included reprehensible statements concerning the evaluation of Black students," Georgetown Law Dean Bill Treanor said in a statement.
"I informed Professor Sellers that I was terminating her relationship with Georgetown Law effective immediately. During our conversation, she told me that she had intended to resign. As a result of my decision, Professor Sellers is no longer affiliated with Georgetown Law."
Treanor said Professor Batson has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Office of Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action.
"This is by no means the end of our work to address the many structural issues of racism reflected in this painful incident, including explicit and implicit bias, bystander responsibility, and the need for more comprehensive anti-bias training. This is a matter of great concern to me," Treanor added.
In a previous statement, Treanor described how he had watched the video of the conversation and found "the content to be abhorrent."
As reported by MEAWW, Sellers joined Georgetown Law in 2003 and also previously taught at George Washington University Law School.
According to the American Bar Association, Sellers is also President of Technology Mediation Services in McLean, Virginia, and was previously Vice President of Enforcement at the Software Publishers Association.
She is listed as a legal expert specializing in mediation and negotiation of intellectual property, domain name, software, contract and other business disputes.
In her resignation letter, seen by NBC Washington, Sellers said: "I am deeply sorry for my hurtful and misdirected remarks.
"While the video of this incident is an excerpt from a longer discussion about class participation patterns, not overall grades, it doesn't diminish the insensitivity I have demonstrated. I would never do anything to intentionally hurt my students or Georgetown Law and wish I could take back my words.
"Regardless of my intent, I have done irreparable harm and I am truly sorry for this. For that reason, I am immediately and voluntarily resigning my position as an adjunct professor."
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