In case you missed it, a controversy has developed around George Haynie III, manager of the UGA College of Engineering’s machine shop on campus. The controversy began in October when Haynie hosted the 2024 Aryan Fest on his property in Lexington, Georgia for the Aryan Freedom Network. Haynie denies a direct involvement with the group, which the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League both label as a neo-Nazi organization. UGA placed Haynie on administrative leave pending an investigation, but allowed him to return to work on December 18, despite his neo-Nazi ties. You can read the UGA College of Engineering’s statement on this decision here.
The letter below was sent to APN by a UGA student who wishes to remain anonymous.
“Consistent with our core values, the University of Georgia and College of Engineering categorically denounces antisemitism, racism, or any other form of hatred and intolerance. Our college is rooted in a community and culture of inclusiveness and support for one another that enables our students, staff and faculty to be successful.”
The above quote was received by thousands of engineering students at the University of Georgia in a college-wide email announcement. The sentiment appears to align with common rhetoric by a public, progressive institution.
The context, however, makes the inclusion of this statement almost laughable in its irony.
Antisemitism, racism, and other forms of hatred are in fact tolerated by the university, as the text just above this quote detailed why the university refused to terminate a neo-Nazi employed in the College of Engineering despite student and staff concerns. The University of Georgia prides itself on fostering an inclusive environment for all students, faculty and staff. However, the return of George Haynie, a machine shop manager in the University’s College of Engineering, puts this into question.
On November 1, Atlanta Antifascists published an article exposing George Raymond Haynie III and his wife, Shannon Ashley Haynie as hosts of an annual event called “Aryan Fest.” This was a national gathering of the Aryan Freedom Network, a neo-Nazi group promoting hardline white supremacist views, vitriolic hatred towards the Jewish community, racist, and anti-LGBTQ+ ideologies. The article further revealed that the Haynies both sit on the executive board of Schatzkind Services, a non-profit claiming to provide “pregnancy crisis housing” to vulnerable pregnant women. The website and name contain several neo-Nazi references, and the logo contains a rune used in Nazi Germany.
Concerned students flooded engineering administrators’ emails, prompting an investigation by the University of Georgia’s Equal Opportunity Office (EOO). The outcome of the month-long investigation was disappointing and disheartening, to say the least. Despite Haynie acknowledging that the event had taken place on his property, the EOO found no violation of university policy, as the event was private with no connection to the University. George Haynie returned to work on December 18.
Haynie is not a professor, but he holds a position that requires him to interact with the college’s student body. The machine shop is one of several resources that the College of Engineering makes available to its students. How can marginalized students be expected to feel safe utilizing its services while it is under the management of someone who actively supports a movement that hopes to eradicate their existence?
Moreover, Haynie is not the only person employed here, as the shop is staffed with quite a few students as well. Upon seeing the news, several of these students have had to deal with the dilemma of quitting their positions and finding employment elsewhere. Some of which have since shared that working under Haynie was “uncomfortable” and recall racist jokes being shared between him and the assistant manager.
Students, staff and faculty have worked tirelessly to create a safe space in the College of Engineering to ensure that all students feel well-supported throughout their rigorous education. Keeping Haynie employed in the machine shop effectively destroys the safe space we have cultivated. Haynie’s return has already negatively impacted several students’ mental health, some expressing fear at the idea of returning to campus for the spring semester.
There has been some discourse in the college about what personal beliefs employees are entitled to. The college cannot be discriminatory based upon ideologies; however, the neo-Nazi agenda is not simply an “ideology” and Haynie’s organization and support for Aryan Fest is not just “free speech.” Neo-Nazi organizations are violent and with organizations like AFN or Schatzkind Services there is a notable attempt to rally more participants in their racist, anti-Semitic practices.
This is not just a passive belief.
George Haynie’s affiliation with these groups implicates him in supporting and organizing events that are directly inflammatory, threatening and hateful toward a significant amount of the student population he interacts with as an employee of the university. His active membership and association with groups of this nature only makes one wonder how much further he will go in his participation. Haynie’s position within the College puts him in contact with several students on a daily basis. How many students have been directed to Schatzkind Services? Or have even been influenced by Haynie to join similar groups? Furthermore, while no recorded incidents have occurred yet, it is not unthinkable that someone who possesses such an ideology would be inclined towards acts of violence.
Allowing George Haynie to return is a message to the concerned student populace that hatred, racism and bigotry is tolerated by our institution.
Students pay to attend this school and Haynie’s return means that Jewish, non-White and LGBTQ+ students will be forced to continue paying the salary of a man possessing unprecedented hatred for their communities. The University of Georgia is a public institution, paid for by American tax dollars, most of whom would likely oppose to their hard-earned money funding a university that protects neo-Nazis. This is a direct blow to minority students threatened by bigoted ideals, who are already disadvantaged in their educational journey. This decision by EOO shows how UGA disregards the well-being of students in favor of doing business “by the book.”
The choice to study engineering brings enough challenges. Forced proximity to an active neo-Nazi should not be one of them.
Students should not need to raise hell in order for the university NOT to employ a neo-Nazi. George Haynie’s actions and affiliations have no place on this campus and the University should uphold its moral duty to its students and terminate Haynie’s employment immediately.
2 thoughts on “Opinion: Neo-Nazis have no place on UGA campus”
It is not exactly a secret how The University of Georgia openly advocates for white Supremacist ideology. This just cements the fact for anyone trying to give the University the benefit of doubt. We are talking about the Deep South here, after all, so its hardly surprising.
Employing a racist antisemite like George Haymie is a black mark on my alma mater, the University of Georgia. Although I remain supportive many faculty, students, and academic programs, I will no longer support the university with financial contributions.