Nov 23, 2015 04:05 PM EST By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

An assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas (KU) is on leave while the school investigates complains of racial discrimination.

Andrea Quenette told The Lawrence Journal-World she was notified on Friday that she would be placed on leave with pay during the investigation. She also told the newspaper she did not recognize the names of the five students who filed their complaint with the school's Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access.

Amy Schumacher, a first-year PhD student who claimed to be in Quennette's classroom, detailed the incident in an open letter co-signed by other students. Not only did Quennette use the N-word, but the professor allegedly made "deeply disturbing remarks" about how to discuss racism with other students.

"Those remarks began with her admitted lack of knowledge of how to talk about racism with her students because she is white. 'As a white woman I just never have seen the racism... It's not like I see 'N-----' spray painted on walls...'" [Quennette] said," read the letter. "As you can imagine, this utterance caused shock and disbelief. Her comments that followed were even more disparaging as they articulated not only her lack of awareness of racial discrimination and violence on this campus and elsewhere but an active denial of institutional, structural, and individual racism."

Quennette, 33, indicated her use of the racial slur was taken out of context and will ultimately be protected by academic freedom.

"I didn't intend to offend anyone, I didn't intend to hurt anyone. I didn't direct my words at any individual or group of people," she told The Journal-World. "It was an open conversation about a serious issue that is affecting our campus, and it will affect our teachers. In that regard, I consider it within my purview... to talk about those issues."

Gabrielle Byrd, a student who co-signed the letter, identified herself to The Washington Post as the classroom's only black student. She said context did not matter in this case.

"I was incredibly shocked that the word was spoken, regardless of the context," Byrd said. "I turned to the classmate siting next to me and asked if this was really happening. Before I left the classroom, I was in tears."

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