Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Jarrar Returns to Campus Saying She 'Loves' the Fresno Community
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 7 years ago on
September 5, 2018

Share

The Fresno State professor who elicited backlash and threats of withholding donations after her controversial tweets praised Fresno upon her return to the classroom.
In an entrance that resembled a Mardi Gras parade, the controversial Randa Jarrar arrived on campus Wednesday (Sept. 5), teaching for the first time since a medical leave of absence.
During her leave, her tweets following the death of former First Lady Barbara Bush ignited a national controversy.

Festive Return

Friends, some wearing bunny ears and some carrying signs, escorted Jarrar to class. A university police officer also accompanied Jarrar. A university spokeswoman said the professor requested the police presence.
A handful of protesters, led by local conservative provocateur Ben Bergquam, also greeted Jarrar.
Jarrar taught English 103 Masterpieces of American Literature to 25 students. The officer locked the door after she entered the classroom.

Controversial Tweets While on Leave

Jarrar called Bush an amazing racist among other unflattering descriptions of the Bush family.

Since those tweets, other controversial comments by Jarrar about President Trump, farmers, and “white editors” have emerged.
Those remarks prompted angry responses from some in the Fresno State community who vowed to no longer donate or attend sporting events. The school says donations have actually increased over the last year, including the time covering Jarrar’s tweets.
School president Joseph Castro said he could not punish Jarrar, because the First Amendment protected her comments, and she made them on her private Twitter account.

Jarrar Thanks Fresno

Following her two-hour class, Jarrar answered media questions.
“What I love about Fresno is the community and the literary community,” she said. “Angela Davis is a hero of mine. This is the land that freed Angela Davis.”
Jarrar referred to 1972 when Fresno farmer Roger McAfee posted bail for Davis, the political activist of 1970s fame.
Asked about if free speech should have any restrictions, Jarrar responded, “Everybody has the right to say what they want.”
Four friends escorted Jarrar away from class, at one time singing “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
Today’s lesson, for the record, covered Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.”
 

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

DON'T MISS

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

DON'T MISS

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

DON'T MISS

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

DON'T MISS

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

DON'T MISS

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

DON'T MISS

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

DON'T MISS

Tulare County Gang Member Convicted of Trying to a Murder Police Officer

DON'T MISS

Newsom Promises Funding to Jump-Start ‘Science of Reading’

DON'T MISS

Feds Indict SoCal Hospice CEO for Medicare Fraud in Fresno and Kern Counties

UP NEXT

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

UP NEXT

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

UP NEXT

Tulare County Gang Member Convicted of Trying to a Murder Police Officer

UP NEXT

Newsom Promises Funding to Jump-Start ‘Science of Reading’

UP NEXT

Feds Indict SoCal Hospice CEO for Medicare Fraud in Fresno and Kern Counties

UP NEXT

Fresno Downtown Parking Costs Taxpayers an Extra $4 Million

UP NEXT

Rancho Cucamonga Prepares for First US Bullet Train Hub in 2028

UP NEXT

8 Ways Musk and Trump Could Inflict Pain on Each Other

UP NEXT

Sunday’s Life Jacket Giveaway Promotes Safety on Fresno Area Waters

UP NEXT

D-Day Veterans Return to Normandy to Mark 81st Anniversary of Landings

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

39 minutes ago

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

1 hour ago

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

1 hour ago

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

1 hour ago

Tulare County Gang Member Convicted of Trying to a Murder Police Officer

1 hour ago

Newsom Promises Funding to Jump-Start ‘Science of Reading’

2 hours ago

Feds Indict SoCal Hospice CEO for Medicare Fraud in Fresno and Kern Counties

2 hours ago

Fresno Downtown Parking Costs Taxpayers an Extra $4 Million

3 hours ago

NASA and the Defense Department Rely on SpaceX in So Many Ways

4 hours ago

Whooping Cough Is Surging. Do You Need Another Shot?

4 hours ago

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

DIAMOND BAR — Air quality regulators in Southern California heard impassioned public comments Friday before an anticipated vote on proposed ...

10 minutes ago

10 minutes ago

Southern California Air Regulators Weigh a Plan to Phase Out Gas Furnaces and Water Heaters

15 minutes ago

US Supreme Court Allows DOGE Broad Access to Social Security Data

31 minutes ago

Doctors Were Preparing to Remove Their Organs. Then They Woke Up.

39 minutes ago

Abrego Garcia Is Returned to US From El Salvador

1 hour ago

Proud Boys Convicted in Jan. 6 Attack Sue Government on Claims of ‘Political Persecution’

1 hour ago

FDA’s AI Assistant ‘Elsa’ Fails Its First Day on the Job

1 hour ago

Documentary Series Goes Inside Trump’s Bubble

1 hour ago

Tulare County Gang Member Convicted of Trying to a Murder Police Officer

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend