Damen Bell was in the third year of his four-year media studies program before being removed from his public practice class and put in another.
He was moved after filing a complaint with the University of Guelph-Humber administration about his professor making inappropriate remarks during lectures.
After the complaint was filed, the professor demanded to know who complained and would withhold references.
Heath Applebaum, a media communications professor at Guelph-Humber who won the ACE educator of the year award in 2021, was recently placed on leave due to complaints about his classroom conduct.
Screenshot of UGH article about ACE educator of the year award. Photo credit: University of Guelph-Humber
Three other teachers will now be leading the class.
“One of the things he said, ‘a news release is like a miniskirt. Just enough to spark interest. But not enough to show the goods,’” Bell told Humber News. “So, that was just like, wow,”
Bell alleged there were frequently made sexist remarks during lectures and included women in inappropriate attire in slide shows presented to the class as an example as to what not to make your LinkedIn profile picture.
Students were shown pictures of a woman wearing lingerie, and another “had large breasts that were hanging out,” Bell said. “I’ve had Heath before, for the past two years now and it’s kind of just like bottled up.”
Previously, Bell had considered complaining as early as the fall semester but decided against it. However, the inappropriate remarks eventually became too much for him and he felt the need to speak out.
Bell initially was intent on remaining anonymous with his complaint to Kathy Ullyott, program head of the university’s media studies.
Distanced shot of Guelph Humber Building Photo credit: Jess Munday
However, during his next class with Applebaum, Bell alleges the class was asked by their professor to identify the whistleblower who made the complaint or no one in the class would be receiving references.
“The whole class started to ask, ‘who was it?’ And then I stepped forward because I was just, like, no one should have to suffer because of what I did,” Bell said. “Luckily, they were all really supportive.”
Kelsey Williams, another media communications student who had sat in on some of Applebaum’s lectures, said she also heard comments about mini skirts.
“I remember distinctly hearing that, I was in class for that when that happened,” she said.
“During a public practice class, he was discussing pretty much what we were expected to wear and act, most of his focus was just on how all the women in the classroom are supposed to act,” Williams told Humber News.
She said the women in the class were often singled out based on what their professor thought about how women in their program should dress and act to be successful, which made being in the class uncomfortable for her.
“Pretty much every classmate I’ve talked to has had unkind words to say about him,” she said.
Applebaum’s students received an email on Feb. 17 from Ullyot stating: “The original instructor is on leave. However, classes will resume the week after reading week with another instructor. I will update you as soon as possible.”
The email stated students should not stress over assignments and that due dates will be adjusted to consider the current circumstances.
For the week prior to the winter reading week, all of Applebaum’s classes were cancelled.
Ullyott and assistant program head Adam Miller said they were unable to comment on the situation.
Humber News reached out to Applebaum several times for comment but no response was received. Humber News reached out to UGH Student Life, as well as the Humber’s Centre for Human Rights and Inclusion, but received no response. Humber’s spokesperson Andrew Leopold and UGH’s spokesperson Elissa Schmidt did not respond to interview requests.
Applebaum received criticism in reviews from other students on his Rate My Professors page, where a number of students said he made inappropriate comments.