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Deakin University has suspended a journalism lecturer after he tweeted that Sky News viewers were "masturbating chimps" and asked a commerce student whether he was happy to fail.
Associate professor Martin Hirst also tweeted a photo of his knitted "f--k it" beanie and said "You need this beanie. I've got mine on today, it's a subtle hint to your boss."
Back to work after the Easter break?
You need this beanie. I've got mine on today, it's a subtle hint to your boss. pic.twitter.com/XwFv3AaKgY— Blair Rice (@ethicalmartini) March 29, 2016
The outspoken academic was charged with serious misconduct on April 20, and is now fighting to get his job back. He has been on leave without pay for seven weeks.
He is the second Victorian academic who has recently come under fire due to allegedly inappropriate social media posts.
Safe Schools co-founder and La Trobe University academic Roz Ward returned to work on Monday after she was temporarily suspended for calling the Australian flag "racist" on her private Facebook page, and saying it should be replaced with a red flag.
It is understood that the university said three tweets published by Dr Hirst in March were offensive, insulting and potentially damaged the university's reputation.
reassuring, masturbating chimps
"@Colvinius: 12000 people in a nation of 22 million. https://t.co/vtYVrvNBMc pic.twitter.com/C7bfuuabAU”— Blair Rice (@ethicalmartini) March 27, 2016
They have also accused him of threatening to impede a student's academic progress after he tweeted at a student "so are you happy to fail commerce?"
Dr Hirst had been responding to a tweet by a student, who said they were glad they were not taught by the academic. Dr Hirst, who works at the university's school of communication and creative arts, said he was was unaware that the student attended Deakin and his comment was meant to be ironic.
@lrjsm @RitaPanahi @CraigCons so are you happy to fail commerce?— Blair Rice (@ethicalmartini) March 20, 2016
Dr Hirst, who goes by the Twitter handle @ethicalmartini responded to Deakin's concerns on May 9, but has still not heard back.
"I'm disappointed that it has taken them so long to get back to me," he said.
He apologised to anyone who was offended by the tweets.
It is not the first time that the former ABC and SBS journalist has been suspended over his Twitter comments.
In 2014 he was stood down for three months without pay after he called his Twitter trolls "stupid as fuck". Academics raised concerns about academic freedom and successfully lobbied the university to reinstate Dr Hirst.
National Tertiary Education Union Victorian Secretary Colin Long said on Tuesday that Deakin had over reacted.
"We are continuing to represent Martin to try and get him reinstated," he said.
A Deakin university spokeswoman said they did not to comment on individual staffing matters. They said all staff needed to comply with employment obligations and the university's code of conduct.
"Deakin University respects academic freedom and has clear policy on the protection afforded its academic staff in this regard."
