On Sept. 16, adjunct instructor Jalyn Dantzler was teaching her Intro to Women’s Studies course the topic of the social construction of gender. Later that day, her teaching career at The University of Alabama was put in jeopardy.
On the same day, conservative social media influencer Robby Starbuck posted on X that he was contacted by a student in Dantzler’s class regarding a remark she made about conservative commentator Charlie Kirk’s death. The student also complained that Dantzler had discussed a “Gender Unicorn” in class — a visual tool that helps explain differences between gender identity, gender expression, sex and sexual orientation — saying they wanted to prevent “political activism” in the classroom.
Starbuck called for University president Peter Mohler to investigate the student’s complaint and urged followers to contact Mohler’s office.
“I attend the University of Alabama and I’m a student in a Women’s Studies class taught by Jalyn Dantzler. Today she made remarks that were very troubling. She stated that she has no remorse for Charlie Kirk’s family since Malcolm X was shot in the head and killed in front of his kids. She stated she wasn’t going to mourn over his assassination like other people,” the post said.
In an interview, Dantzler disputed the post’s account, and said that the student could have just come to ask for clarification if they had a question or concern.
“I always make it known that I am a blunt teacher. I don’t sugarcoat anything, but this is a cool fun class, but we are going to be discussing topics that may be sensitive,” she said.
The class fell near the 62nd anniversary of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, an attack committed by Ku Klux Klan members in Birmingham that killed four young girls. Dantzler brought up how religion and actions don’t always show beliefs, making an example of a post she saw made by Charlie Kirk about Black people.
“I don’t mourn for him, but I do pray for his child and his daughter, because that was very disturbing to see,” Dantzler said she told her class.
She said she then compared the assassination of Kirk to that of Malcolm X, as his wife and child witnessed his death, calling both acts of violence “disturbing and harmful.”
The discussion came about a week after Kirk was assassinated. College professors around the country, including one at The University of Alabama, were fired for comments they made in class or on social media about Kirk.
After the original class discussion, Dantzler said she got a call from the chair of the Department of Gender and Race Studies, Utz McKnight, who she said was concerned about Starbuck’s post. She said that McKnight told her the University would send in the UA Teaching Academy to observe Dantzler’s class, and that based on those results, she may be terminated.
In the Teaching Academy’s findings, which The Crimson White reviewed, students described Dantzler as transformative, engaging and passionate, noting they felt comfortable participating and expressing themselves in her course. However, they suggested the classroom environment could improve by maintaining balance during discussion, and that sometimes Dantzler’s “comments or reactions during the discussions could potentially influence classroom dynamics.”
Dantzler moved her classes online after Halloween.
“I just reminded them that this is an open discussion course where we talk about why these topics are important, that you’re going to be talking about things that you may disagree with, and that’s okay,” Dantzler said.
Following the observation, McKnight emailed Dantzler in October and said that she would not be teaching in spring 2026, but that he would try to have her teach in fall 2026.
Dantzler did not receive any courses for the spring or fall 2026 semesters.
McKnight did not respond to requests for comment. When asked about Dantzler losing her course, Alex House, a spokesperson for the University, said that the need for part-time instructors varies each semester due to student enrollment and demand.
“The University is committed to academic freedom and open inquiry in the classroom,” House said.
Dantzler said she is doing well and now works two jobs in healthcare as a personal caregiving assistant and a certified nursing assistant.
“I’m just taking a break from academia currently, because there’s not enough accountability and not enough to protect the students and the teachers from the students who feel like they can attack someone just because they disagree,” Dantzler said.
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