‘The only idiot in this room is me’ – Fisher makes red faced apology

For the University’s response, click here.

An English lecturer has publicly confessed and apologised after he was accused of insulting students on Facebook. 

Tony Fisher, a linguistics lecturer at the University of Nottingham, slammed students as “semi-literate” and “idiots” on his Facebook page, as well as posting excerpts from work he deemed to be substandard, according to Impact.

Today, Fisher admitted he was an “idiot” in a second year Disclosure and Society lecture.

Fisher said he was “shaking like a leaf”…

Fisher is alleged to be leaving Nottingham at the end of March to take up a teaching post at University of York St. John as a lecturer in Language and Linguistics.

He dubbed the UoN HR Department ‘absolute arseholes’ after they refused to let him out of his contract a month early.

Fisher addressed the packed lecture hall and personally condemned his actions.

He said: “I was sitting here shaking like a leaf [waiting for the lecture to start].”

Clearly, the popular lecturer was unclear of what his reception would be after publicly insulting his students, although none were named personally in the Facebook blasts.

He went on to reference one status in which he called a student an “idiot”.

Fisher back-tracked and said: “There’s one idiot in the room, and that’s me.”

Throughout the lecture he continued to jokingly reference the Facebook debacle, clearly hoping to shed light on what could have been a serious case of misconduct:

“Ironically, this example is from Facebook… by a friend of mine who lives in Japan and did give me permission.”

“Why would he say something stupid like that?” Fisher said in reference to a quote by David Cameron. “Although I guess I’m in no position to say anything.”

Students at the University of Nottingham have had mixed reviews of the public outburst.

Chris Milner, a first year English student and one of his personal tutees, said:

“It is unfortunate that Tony’s time at Nottingham has been tainted somewhat by this incident; it would be a shame to see him leave on bad terms.

“Using Facebook as a way to voice frustrations is regrettable, I hope however that the university allow him to finish his contract.”

Bet he’s in need of a ‘herbal remedy’ now…

However, third year English student Hannah Rought reacted with more frustration at the public nature of his complaints and is now even more worried about getting her results. She said:

“I’m on the module that he’s talking about in his statuses and I felt really unprepared for the exam because he hadn’t marked my essay. I sent him two emails and he hasn’t replied once. It makes me pretty angry and I’m now scared to get my results.”

Modules were referenced, by specific students were not

Second year English studies student Jessica Papworth, who has been taught in both seminars and lectures by Fisher, was complimentary of him and deemed the incident a “foolish mistake”:

“I think we’re all guilty of writing comments about our lecturers on social media safe in the knowledge that they’ll probably never see it. I can see how it works both ways. That in no way justifies the comments made by Tony Fisher; having had him as a seminar tutor for two years I have always found him to be friendly and approachable. Therefore I am equally as shocked at the insensitivity of some of the posts.

“However he did not directly target anyone as I have seen students do to their tutors. His failure to make his profile private was a foolish mistake, which has resulted in things that should never have been seen by students have been.”

Dr Paul Greatrix, Registrar at The University of Nottingham, said:  “This is the first I have heard on this matter. I am not aware if any formal complaints have been made. I will be following up with the School”

Tony Fisher was unable to speak to The Tab at this time. More to follow in the coming days.