Kansas Debate Coach Loses Cool, Moons Room

(CBS/AP)  A YouTube video of a Kansas professor mooning a room full of students and faculty during a debate has led to two university investigations.

The video shows Fort Hays State University debate coach William Shanahan in a profane, in-your-face argument with his counterpart from the University of Pittsburgh, Shanara Reid-Brinkley. The exchange took place in March at a competitive debate at Emory University in Atlanta.

The video shows Shanahan explode into a feral, expletive-laced tirade. The debate coach was caught on tape jumping around and gesticulating wildly before bending over and pulling down his khaki shorts, exposing his underwear. The tape was posted on YouTube Aug. 2 and had over 88,000 views by Thursday.

In the video, Reid-Brinkley criticized Shanahan for his body language while the students were debating. Shanahan protested throughout the fight that he had a right to be involved in the course of debates.

"Sometimes people care so much that it bubbles over," Shanahan said in the video. "I'm not ashamed of my behavior... I'm not backing down."

Fort Hays academic officer Larry Gould said Reid-Brinkley accused the Fort Hays team of dropping her as a judge because she is black. Gould said the school is also investigating the "racial element" to the episode.

[edgenews1]

I thought I''d add a bit of additional information as it concerns to the situation of Michael Kearns. I had him as an instructor at Fort Hays State in 2005, and, as a journalist, followed his situation since his departure from FHSU.

In September 2007, Kearns filed suit against Fort Hays State University and Dr. Curt Brungardt, Voss Distinguished Professor in Leadership Studies and head of the Leadership Studies department at the time of Kearn''s departure.

Read more about the lawsuit here: http://theonlineedge.net/12-07-07/31212070701.html

You can also read more about how Kearns organized a Veteran''s Day ceremony at FHSU at this link: http://www.theonlineedge.net/11-00-07/0105050509.html

Find out more about Michael Kearns background at this link: http://theonlineedge.net/12-07-07/31212070702.html

If you have any questions or would like further information, contact me at [e-mail]

Thanks!

-Zach Becker
Editor and Publisher
The Edge

[axxaxx1]

krannawitter:

Thank you for your two "sense". I''m sure your debate audiences were well entertained. For further information, please check this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_two_cents_(idiom)

Must be something in the water there in Hays.

[barbaram99]

There is one race that being the human race and my late Maine born aunt taught me at her knee in Dexter Me.

[gondring1]

Where is the video of the entire round available?

[eggy1620]

That called for a full frontal rebuttal.

[toldyouso12]

Very childish--exhibit one, for the failure of parents in the 1950s to successfully RAISE their kids--and as a result, their half raised offspring are now totally not raising their own kids. Time outs be damnnned. It might seem "cool" or appropriate to other childish people or those without manners, but the rule of thumb is, those who can articulate do so with words, while barbarians can only resort to actions to get their point across. Mooning by a teacher sends the wrong message as does swearing, both should be reprimanded or better yet, fired--if the coach is sooo brilliant--let him write a book. Some of the most destructive people who have ever existed were also very intelligent--but intelligence only measures how much a person can adapt and learn--it does not measure what they actually embody or practice.

[hwy71so]

Just one more chaotic example of the looney left...

[toldyouso12]

I also hate this whole "race issue". Hays can be a little backwards, but I will tell you this. FHSU is a rather liberal school and Shanahan is probably the most liberal guy in Hays. To accuse him of anything race related is hillarious.

Posted by krannawitter at 10:16 AM : Aug 14, 2008


Here''s a shocker for you and other so called liberals: racism has very little to do with the position one takes on social issues--there is often a behavioral chasm between the idealism of social justice and how we see or interact with other races--especially if we feel we are pushed to the wall. As the Clinton Democrats have shown--liberals can be very racist indeed. The only person''s bias or racism you can speak up in defense of is really your own. not this man, no one else, because you are not in his head or heart to definitively know what you are talking about.

[patriot12436]

krannawitter
It is always good to hear an opinion from someone who has ben there and knows some of the details. Thanks for the comment.

[kmd0zv]

Being a policy debater in high school and in college let me explain a few things.

1. The Towson team was not accusing the Fort Hays team of being racist. CBS has completely misconstrued the argumentation that Towson made. If you are really want to make an informed comment on here about Mr. Shananhan and his actions than I would suggest looking up the Louisville project which is the argument that Towson runs in the quarter-final round at CEDA Nationals.

2. This is not all of policy debate. However, Mr. Shanahan may have gone a little crazier thats just Mr. Shanahan. He is a dedicated coach who loves the community and when you start making accusations at the institution he gets a little upset. I''ve watched the entire round and Shanera Reid makes a few comments after that are entirely not true.

3. If you don''t understand the policy debate world than your not going to understand this video or the round. If you have any questions I would love to hear them so I can answer them for you