I may be naive, but I never expected college debate to involve so much ass.

Imagine my surprise when I turned on my local NBC affiliate for some late news tonight and saw a video of Bill Shanahan mooning a full room at a debate tournament.

Now, I’ve written before about Shanahan, a debate teacher at my former college of Fort Hays State University, mainly to praise his eccentric mannerism and extreme passion. He’s crazy, absolutely atypical, with the long hair, black-rimmed glasses and bare feet to match. I liked the guy a lot. But the word “non-conformist” is his credo, and I remember many at the university thinking him a loon.

A story in the Hays Daily News today mentions his past trouble:

It isn’t the first time Shanahan has been thrust into the spotlight. He was arrested in June 2007 for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, criminal trespass and battery for an altercation at a T-ball game in Hays.

He also was arrested in May 2006 for battery after an argument with his eye doctor.

Yes, his optician! Even something as innocuous as ocular health can be debated (the pros and cons of contact lenses?)

Still, sometimes you run up against an authority figure that just won’t take “crazy” for an answer. University president Ed Hammond fired Shanahan today, citing that he violated university policy. “Everyone has a right to First Amendment speech, freedom of speech, but these actions are unacceptable for someone representing our university,” Hammond said, according to the Hays Daily News.

In the meantime, Hammond has suspended the debate and forensic teams at FHSU. That’s a shame, for I do remember the program having a history of doing really well nationally. In fact, in 2002 the team reached the national championship. Hammond did commend Shanahan for his prior accomplishments at the school, and then a statement was read from Shanahan.

“I hope this incident does not detract from the incredible work done by Fort Hays State debate over the last decade, or my other contributions to FHSU, which are far greater than a 9-minute YouTube clip.” (click here for an abbreviated clip from ABC News)

(also, an editorial from the Wichita Eagle on the incident)