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Who is Emanoil Theodorescu? York prof slammed for mocking Myanmar student missing exam due to military coup

Myanmar has been in civil unrest since the military junta staged a coup on February 1 and seized control of the country. They have announced an indefinite blackout of all Internet communication

A professor in Canada's York University has come under fire for his email exchange with a student located in Myanmar who was seeking an exam deferral. Emanoil Theodorescu first mocked the student for the Internet coming down with Covid-19 when the student contacted him regarding their Internet services being shut off. 

The student first contacted Theodorescu, writing, "Thank you for the extension professor. I have just learned that from tomorrow all cellular data, wifi and Internet services will be cut off indefinitely. Therefore, there will be a total communications blackout. May I please get a deferral for the midterm test 2 or could the weight of that be added to my final since I won't be able to give it?"

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Theodorescu then responded that there was no deferral and that it would be transferred to the final exam, writing, "Last chance, bad sign." He also wrote, "Even the Internet came down with Covid-19?"

The student then wrote back, "No professor. The Internet did not come down with Covid-19. There was a military coup where I am living and almost 200 protestors have been shot until now. The regime has decided to shut off all communications by tomorrow." Theodorescu confirmed that the student's final exam would be worth 60 percent of his grade and also wrote that should the student miss an exam in the future, "it's over."

Theodorescu then wrote, "By the way, your remarks (both related to this course and to your home country) made me wonder how you understand reality. People don't get shot for just protesting, but for a lot deeper reasons. And with loading everything on the final exam — it's going to be tough to pass the course — for lack of practice if nothing else."

York University said in a statement responding to the incident, "York University is committed to upholding and promoting the values of respect, equity, diversity and inclusion across our campuses and in our communication."

"There was a recent communication between a Department of Mathematics and Statistics instructor and a student that does not reflect those values. While employment matters are confidential, we can confirm that appropriate actions were immediately initiated upon learning of the exchange," it added.

The statement also said in an update, "The University can now confirm that it is taking steps to address the matter under the relevant collective agreement, and further, effective immediately, alternate arrangements for the teaching of the course have been made."

Screenshots of the email were posted on social media and many called out Theodorescu for his statements. One user wrote, "I’m almost never one for saying someone should be sacked from their job, but it is very clear here that Emanoil Theodorescu is not fit to teach in any capacity. What a scumbag."

Another tweeted, "I was absolutely shocked to read Emanoil Theodorescu's horribly insensitive email to a student experiencing a military coup in their country. The department's response that he does 'not represent' them is unacceptable."

While Theodorescu's public profiles have been taken down, his RateMyProfessors page shows that he has a rating of 1.6 out of five. A review from January 5 this year read, "He yells at students if he thinks the question asked is stupid. Did not understand a single lecture."

Another review from September 25, 2020, read, "This guy will blame all his problems onto his students. He forgot to record? Students fault. Not enough time on quiz? Your not smart enough. Highly don't recommend."

Myanmar has been in civil unrest since the military junta staged a coup on February 1 and seized control of the country claiming that Aung San Suu Kyi was elected due to election fraud. Suu Kyi and hundreds of other politicians and allies have been in prison since. According to reports, at least 100 civilians have been killed by security forces and thousands have been detained since the coup.