Duke University professor removed over "Speak English" email

Megan Neely, an assistant professor at Duke University in North Carolina, said in an email to students that two unnamed faculty members of the biostatistics Masters programme had complained to her about students speaking Chinese in public areas in the department.

She said that not speaking English could lead to “unintended consequences” for international students.

Her email went viral on Twitter and Chinese social media, while Duke’s medical faculty has promised to review its biostatistics programme.

Many have criticised Dr Neely’s email as racist or insensitive, and raised concerns that faculty members were discriminating against international students.