Massimo Zucchetti, the professor at the Polytechnic of Turin who in recent days has caused discussion for some particularly offensive social media releases, is at great risk. “Ukrainians annoy me just by looking at them,” the teacher wrote on Facebook when commenting on Ukraine’s football defeat against Romania. To then make matters worse: «They need to get out of the way as soon as possible. Then their fuhrerin needs soldiers to defend “democracy”, right? Well, soon 22 more to send to the slaughterhouse.” Now the teacher, already known in the news for having chained himself with students in front of the Polytechnic in solidarity with Palestine, could be kicked out of the university. Yesterday the university’s Academic Senate condemned the teacher’s exits and asked for his removal from all university positions, as well as the initiation of an investigation to evaluate disciplinary proceedings. The rector of the Polytechnic, Stefano Corgnati, announced that today he will start the evaluation procedures of the case.
The excuses fell on deaf ears
“The gravity of the events has mobilized the entire community,” declared the rector. Once the scandal exploded, the teacher then attempted to straighten things out. “I apologize. I closed my profile. My words were excessive. I have nothing against the Ukrainian people, nor against those 22 players. I said something solemnly stupid because I’m a football fanatic. I said it on my personal page, not on my professor one”, the teacher attempted to clarify yesterday. «I was misunderstood. Of course I don’t like that this government supports Zelensky’s government. What I wanted to express is an attack on the war in general and on the Zelensky government. I said that these 22 must be careful because if they return to their homeland they will be sent to the slaughterhouse too. I certainly didn’t wish death on anyone,” he added, underlining that he was inundated with insults and threats after his post was spread. His excuses, however, were of little use: the university is already working to decide his fate.
