Trump, race, and “violent” classrooms: UW–Madison dean’s remarks set off academic firestorm
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is confronting a storm of public attention after one of its senior administrators, Associate Dean Percival Matthews, made a series of statements describing President Donald Trump as a racist and co-authored an academic paper asserting that America’s education system, and even mathematics itself, are “inherently violent” toward Black students, according to Fox News.The controversy exposes a deep and familiar tension in higher education: Where to draw the line between academic freedom and institutional representation, particularly when the remarks of senior faculty intersect with the nation’s cultural and political divides.
A Facebook post that sparked outrage
Matthews, who serves as associate dean for the Office of the Dean and professor in the Human Development Area at UW–Madison, drew attention following revelations by Fox News Digital about several past social media posts and scholarly writings.In a January 2018 Facebook post, Matthews appeared to describe Trump as a racist, writing, “What’s on my mind? This: When you get a guy in the ultimate seat of power with a history of racist endeavors who makes not-even-veiled racist comments that a decent portion of the people continue to defend, you’re left wondering what’s left to do,” as quoted by Fox News.He then invoked the words of civil rights leader Malcolm X, adding, “For many, the name Malcolm X evokes the image of an unnecessarily violent man who hated America. But if you actually read the text of his best speeches (I recommend The Ballot or the Bullet as a starter), it’s clear that the frustration was fueled by a bald-faced (look the origin of that term up too) denial of an undeniable and obvious truth,” as quoted by Fox News Digital. Matthews’ comments came years before he was appointed in April as “special advisor for access and community,” a newly created position acknowledging his role in “advancing UW–Madison’s institutional efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive community for students and employees from every background.”
The paper that questioned “violence” in Mathematics
Beyond social media, Matthews’ academic writings have also drawn scrutiny. In a research paper co-authored with Pooja Sidney, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky, Matthews argued that educational inequities in America systematically marginalize Black students—particularly in mathematics.The paper stated, “This exclusionary narrative continues into the higher grades, with Black children routinely being shut out of advanced mathematics courses despite meeting achievement standards. In stark contrast, more privileged White children are sometimes tracked into advanced courses despite failing to meet those standards,” as quoted by Fox News. In one of its most debated sections, the paper asked, “How can a Black scholar work to improve a system through rigorous empirical research when that system is arguably inherently violent toward Black children, even the ones who excel at all the tests?”These passages, while rooted in critical race scholarship, have fueled debate about whether such framing implies hostility toward traditional educational standards or merely highlights structural inequities within them.
Post-George Floyd reflections
Matthews’ writings from 2020 further reignited public discussion. Following the murder of George Floyd, he posted on Facebook, “A legitimate (adv) use of violence can legitimate (vb) use of violence. There are a number of ways to read that sentence.”In another post that same year, he wrote, “And people are surprised that Minneapolis is burning?” comments that were interpreted by some as justifying public unrest, though others saw them as a sociological reflection on collective anger and racial injustice as reported by Fox News.
The university responds
When reached by Fox News Digital, the University of Wisconsin–Madison distanced itself from Matthews’ personal posts without reprimanding him. John Lucas, assistant vice chancellor for public affairs and institutional communications, said, “UW–Madison supports free expression and doesn’t comment on the personal social media accounts of its students, faculty or staff.”Similarly, the University of Kentucky’s office of public relations and strategic communications issued a statement emphasizing faculty independence: “The university wouldn’t have any comment on a faculty member’s scholarly work, which is protected by academic freedom and does not represent any university stance.”
The broader debate: Freedom, responsibility, and representation
Matthews’ remarks have reignited an ongoing debate within academia, whether educators, particularly those in leadership positions, should exercise caution when personal expression may reflect upon institutional values.Critics argue that remarks like Matthews’ risk deepening ideological divides and undermining trust in higher education as a politically neutral space. Defenders, however, contend that confronting systemic racism, including within mathematics, is a legitimate academic pursuit grounded in data and lived experience.As American universities increasingly find themselves at the intersection of politics, race, and public accountability, the Matthews controversy serves as a microcosm of a larger national struggle: Balancing the sanctity of academic freedom with the perception of impartiality expected from public institutions.In the end, the debate surrounding Percival Matthews is not only about a single professor’s words, it is about how far universities can stretch the boundaries of free thought before the fabric of public trust begins to fray.(With inputs from Fox News Digital)
