U of G prof accused of mocking anxious student responds to allegations

A University of Guelph professor who was put on a leave of absence after students allege he mocked and humiliated one of their classmates has responded to the allegations.

"There's two sides to every story," said Edward Hedican, who students identified as the substitute professor who allegedly referred to a student's educational assistant as his "handler" who "needed to control" the student in a class Monday night.

• Professor put on leave after allegedly mocking U of G student with 'severe anxiety'

Hedican's statement was made to The Canadian Press on Wednesday.

Hedican declined to comment on the specifics of the incidentand said his union cautioned him not to make any statements to the press.

Hedicanput on leave of absence

"There was no physical contact here, there's no sexual interaction, there's a verbal altercation that happened in class. And I'll just leave it at that," he said.

Hedican was put on a leave of absence Tuesday morning after studentsclaimed Hedican, who was filling in for their usual professor, made disrespectful comments to astudent, who has"severe anxiety," whilean aid worker was at his side.

The incident was posted online in a Facebook group called Overheard at Guelph.

"Overshocked and Overthanked: THANK YOU to the girl in ANTH 1150 who stood up to Ed Hedican for disrespecting a boy in our class, who has severe anxiety, and the boy's aid," Regan Devlin said in a Facebookpost that now has more than 100 comments and nearly 2,000 likes.

'Unprofessional and rude'

"Hedican attempted to ridicule him and questioned if he was even enrolled in the class in front of hundreds of students."

"He was completely insensitive, unprofessional and rude," she said in the post.

Courtney Orser, a third-year studentwho was in the class, told CBCK-Wthat Hedican singled out the student multiple times in front of the of nearly 600 people.

In one instance, the student was playing withgum, and Hedicanstopped the class to tell the student to stop, saying he was a distraction, Orser said.

She said the student responded by telling professor about his anxiety, which is why he was playing with his gum.

Hedican, she said, responded by tellingthe student his actions were annoying.

She said professor's comments made her "furious" and she couldn't stand to be in the class.

New professor hired

As she stood up to leave in the middle of Hedican's lecture, Orser defended her classmate, who she said left the class with his aid worker both visibly upset.

In a now deletedvideo of Orser'sdefenceof her fellow student, she said, "Idon't like to stay in classes where people who pay just as much tuition as I do get treated like that."

People can be heard clapping in the video, and Orser said many of the students walked out of class, including the usualprofessor's teaching assistant.

University of Guelph provost and vice presidentCharolette Yates said she finds this situation troubling and is taking the matter seriously, but the University of Guelph would not confirm the identity of the professor or if he was tenured.

Students said on Facebook that they have been notified a new professor has been hired to teach their class, which the university has confirmed withCBC News.

A representative from University of Guelph said becausethe professor has been placed on leave, "arrangements have been made to have the courses taught by another faculty member during this period."