Brookdale Prof Tells Conservative Student 'F--- Your Life!'

LINCROFT, NJ — Brookdale Community College, in Lincroft, is investigating an incident where a sociology professor cursed at a student, shouting at the student "f--- your life" and banging his hand on the desk. Watch the video above.

Professor Howard Finkelstein, who teachers Sociology 105, was caught arguing with one of his students, Christopher Lyle. Lyle, 23, is a Toms River resident who said he considers himself politically conservative.

The argument started when Lyle said he thinks both men and women can be victims of sexual harassment.

The incident was captured on camera by another student in the class, Joey Smith, 26, who said he recorded the argument because he's tired of seeing Finkelstein argue with Lyle. He told NJ.com that Prof. Finkelstein will frequently ask Lyle for his opinions only to tear into them, and the entire class often erodes into lectures directed specifically at Lyle. He recorded it so he can show his friends why he hates the course, he said.

Smith said he doesn't always agree with Lyle, but he's tired of seeing Finkelstein direct the whole class towards him.

"He is basically just lecturing this one student for the whole period," Smith told NJ.com. "We are sitting there and he is speaking directly to Chris, going back and forth about personal thoughts."

Across the country, many Republican or conservative college students had said they feel they can't express their opinions on left-leaning college campuses.

"We know that (Brookdale) will handle this matter in a professional manner to ensure that no student at Brookdale will be subjected to a hostile environment on their campus," said Monmouth County freeholders Thomas Arnone and Lillian Burry. Both Arnone and Burry are Republicans. Brookdale, as a public community college, receives a significant amount of public funding. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has said he would like to make community college free for all.

Lyle, the Toms River student who was cursed at, said he's tired of his professor trying to convince him that he's wrong.

"I have to stand up for myself and my beliefs," he said. "I pay money to learn. I don't pay money to get lectured on my beliefs."

Lyle said after the cursing incident, Brookdale pulled him out of class and talked to him, because he's a gun owner and they wanted to makes sure he wouldn't hurt anyone, he said. He said Finkelstein knew he was a gun owner because the two have often gotten into arguments about gun ownership. Lyle also told NJ.com that the professor regularly tells him to "shut up."