FHSU fires debate coach, suspends debate program By Jessica Oakley HAYS, Kansas, August 22, 2008 � KSN-TV has learned that Fort Hays State University has fired its debate coach and suspended the debate program. Dr. William Shanahan has been fired for violating the university's code of ethics in an incident that occurred during a debate at Wichita State University. The debate was posted on YouTube.com (see below). He is seen yelling profanities at a judge and pulling his pants down, exposing his underwear. The debate program has been suspended indefinitely because college officials fear there is too much crude behavior at the debates. They fear they are not being handled in a professional manner. College officials say steps are being taken so as to not disadvantage the debate students in the coming year.
08-14-2008 FORT HAYS EMBARRASSED NATIONALLY An absolutely out-of-control professor from Fort Hays State is giving the small Kansas college in Hays, KS a national black eye with his antics during a recent debate. At one point he mooned the audience and had to be separated several times by students and other faculty members. Some students cried during the outburst. NOTE: The language used by both professors is horrendous and totally inappropriate in front of students. A video of the outburst was posted on YouTube will soon eclipse the 100,000 viewer mark. Here is one write-up of the incident: A video posted on YouTube Aug. 2 exposes the ugly side of competitive debate. And the backside of debate coach Bill Shanahan. At the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) quarterfinals last March, the Fort Hays State University assistant professor got into a screaming match with rival coach Shanara Reid-Brinkley from the University of Pittsburgh. The argument devolved into an ugly exchange of profanity and Shanahan pulled down his pants, mooning the audience. The coaches describe a topic about racial issues that got out of hand.
The Kansas City Star editors felt the story was funny and deserved a humorous headline:
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