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Babson College Professor Fired For Facebook Post About Iran Attack

BOSTON (CBS) – A Babson College professor who was suspended for a Facebook post about Iran has now been fired. Babson insisted that Asheen Phansey's post on his personal Facebook page does not represent the values of the college.

Phansey called his post, which appeared to encourage Iran to choose 52 American sites as bombing targets, "a bad attempt at humor."

Phansey deleted his post, but the school suspended the American born professor, who himself earned his MBA from Babson. The school announced Thursday afternoon he no longer works there.

"Babson College conducted a prompt and thorough investigation related to a post shared on a staff member's personal Facebook page that does not represent the values and culture of the College," the school said in a statement. "Based on the results of the investigation, the staff member is no longer a Babson College employee. As we have previously stated, Babson College condemns any type of threatening words and/or actions condoning violence and/or hate."

Phansey released a statement Thursday evening: "I am disappointed and saddened that Babson has decided to abruptly terminate my 15-year relationship with the college just because people willfully misinterpreted a joke I made to my friends on Facebook. I would have hoped that Babson, an institution of higher education that I love and to which I have given a great deal, would have defended and supported my right to free speech. Beyond my own situation, I am really concerned about what this portends for our ability as Americans to engage in political discourse without presuming the worst about each other."

On Wednesday night, Phansey apologized through his attorney, insisting his post was simply a bad joke.

"I am sorry that my sloppy humor was read as a threat," he said.

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