Students Want Professor Fired After Wife's Racial Slur Attack Caught on Tape

Sacramento State University students are calling for the dismissal of one of their professors following the emergence of shocking video footage showing his allegedly intoxicated wife uttering a slew of racial slurs at their neighbors, while he also engaged in the angry exchange.

The video clip, which was uploaded on May 1 but was later taken down, shows associate economics professor Tim Ford's wife, Crystal, arguing with their neighbors. Crystal was spewing profanities and the n-word, reported the Daily Mail. The altercation began when Crystal approached their neighbors complaining about the smell of "bacon grease" wafting into their home.

The incident sparked widespread backlash and forced Ford, as well as the university, to release formal apologies. Those apologies did not stop students from launching a petition titled #FireTimFord on Friday.

"In order to ensure that students feel exempt from bigotry in the classroom, professors that have exhibited a blatant prejudice against minorities, both on and off campus, need to be dismissed from employment at Sac State," the petition reads.

Students also aired their views online.

"i'm so embarrassed, i actually really liked him before this but this behavior is inappropriate and he should have called his wife out for it," one student wrote in a tweet. "While he might have not said it he married someone who sees no problem with it and that's the issue."

A Reddit user who attends Ford's class argued that the professor's wife should be held accountable.  

"Though I don't condone the actions of his wife or himself in the video you clearly see she's the one with the racist remarks. If anybody should be punished it should be his wife 100% but mr ford should not lose his job."

In his apology letter, Ford pointed out that he and Crystal previously had "difficulties" with their neighbors but admitted that "this particular confrontation got out of hand," according to The State Hornet.

Ford added that his wife checked into a hospital on Friday for drug and alcohol abuse.

The Daily Mail reported that Ford was holding a beer during the altercation and he said, "I'm a professor at Sac State, dude. I have a Ph.D. I don't need to be dealing with s*** like this."

Sacramento State President Robert S. Nelsen called the incident "unacceptable" in a statement posted to Facebook.

"I am deeply offended by the language in the video. Racial epithets are repulsive and unacceptable," he said. "Personally, I am incredibly upset by the contents of the video and the harmful impact that it is having on our campus community."

Nelsen added that the altercation would not be addressed publicly as it was a "personnel matter that the university is investigating."

Economics major Matthew Clare, who attends Ford's class, said the professor was still teaching on Thursday and there was no mention of the video, according to State Hornet.

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