A professor at Westfield State University has come under fire for his alleged treatment of students at a Turning Point USA chapter, including allegations of tampering with a camera during a tabling event in early November.
The professor, Karsten Theis, teaches chemical and physical sciences at the university. The incident report filed by university police states that “Turning Point USA Representative Anthony St. Pierre came to Campus Police Headquarters to report a disruption by Professor Karsten Theis.”
“He [Theis] approached the camera on the Turning Point table and turned it with his hand. Mr. St. Pierre then approached Professor Theis about this action. Professor Theis then entered Mr. St. Pierre’s personal space and appeared to be staring him down. Professor Theis then exited the building through the West exterior door and then re-entered Wilson Hall through the South exterior door. The camera did not appear to be damaged, and was not recording so there was no footage of the interaction captured.”
The police report states “No Crime Involved,” as to the status of Theis’ actions.
Students with the chapter provided their explanation of what happened to TPUSA, which contains more detail as to what allegedly took place with the professor.
“Professor Karsten Theis walked over to the camera, and proceeded to twist the top of it away from the table. He tried walking away but I started calling him out, which prompted him to turn around. He then approached me, coming extremely close to making contact with my shoulder and just stared at us. I kept questioning him and told him that he was ’embarrassing’ for touching the student’s equipment, but he wouldn’t talk to me. Our chapter Vice President, Nick Boucher, started questioning him, at which Professor Theis said he assumed the camera was ‘school property,’ prompting Mr. Boucher to correct him and state [that] the professor should not have been touching the equipment. Professor Theis quickly said ‘sorry’ before leaving through a different exit. Everything happened so quick none of us were able to get our own videos of it. Also, it is important to note that the students handled this very well and had great conversations with everyone who approached the table to talk.”
Further, an email was sent to students from Ethnic and Gender Studies Professor Margot Hennessy, alleging the chapter of setting up cameras to purposely catch interactions with university members.
“Folks It was brought to our attention that a group of both on and off campus members of Turning Point USA were FILMING everyone who moved through Wilson Owl Cafe today,” Hennessy wrote.
She further claimed the chapter was violating state law with its camera usage, and is seeking further legal counsel.
“They had multiple cameras set up to ‘catch’ the interactions they were instigating with passing students, faculty and staff,” Hennessy wrote. “Union leadership has reached out to the Provosts [sic] office to express our concern about the recording and we were told the group had the approval of the Dean of Students and that filming in a ‘public space’ did not violate the Massachusetts 2 party law which has a provision for allowing recording where we should have no reasonable expectation of privacy. The cameras must be visible. I have asked for a consult from MTA legal and also have written the Provost and the President to request the General Counsel weigh in. It is important to me that faculty know this group is filming us wherever and whenever they set up. They have been in Ely, on the Green and now in Wilson Owl Cafe. They are invested in getting people to engage with their “ideas” and “debate” in search of a gotcha moment they can use in the media. Please be aware of this and I personally would refrain from any engagement. I am concerned about how this affected our students today and interrupted the learning environment in Wilson as well as simply obstructing some people from moving through the space or getting a coffee. This is not to forget the students and faculty who felt assaulted by the hateful and harsh rhetoric.”
