Western Sydney University professor accidentally broadcasts adult content during Zoom class
A Western Sydney University lecturer has been fired for accidentally screening pornography during an online lesson with his first-year students. Outraged students and parents reported the incident to the university after which the lecturer was fired. Any actions against him will be taken according to WSU policies and procedures after an investigation, the university said.
The accused lecturer and another teacher were conducting an online class called 'Introduction to essential skills for academic success', a basic literacy course for students entering university via Zoom on Wednesday, March 9. During the lesson, the lecturer took a break and forgot to pause the Zoom meeting for the 15 students present. A screen from a pornographic website with the title '18+ Cams with Sexy Cam Girls' soon popped up, featuring a series of explicit images of young women.
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Students who witnessed the incident were furious as well as confused. Some even thought of dropping out of the university. According to the Sunday Telegraph, the father of one student who was present in the accused lecturers' class, who wished to remain anonymous, said that his daughter was revolted by the incident. "She was very upset to the point where she thought about pulling out of university," he said. "A teacher should be a leader in the community, a father or mother figure, so I don't think he should be in that role. I'm dumbfounded that he would show that to young people. It's a breach of trust."
Western Sydney University assured parents and students that action will be taken against the lecturer after a proper investigation. As an interim measure, the lecturer has been asked to step down.
"The university was made aware of an incident that occurred during a Zoom lesson on Wednesday, March 9, after receiving several complaints from students and parents. The university has taken swift action, standing down the academic in question while it completes a full and thorough investigation of this matter. It has also reached out to affected students to provide support," the university said in a statement.
The university has not disclosed any details about the lecturer — even his name and age have been withheld. However, certain reports claim the lecturer has been teaching English at the University since 2015.
This is not the first time such an outrageous act has occurred during online classes. Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne was also caught in a similar situation when he held an online safety talk with high school students in 2016, where he accidentally showed a link to a porn website to 200-plus students at Robina State High School. Hayne was granted bail last month from the NSW appeal court after a nine-month stint in prison for sexual assault.