This professor cannot have missed that wearing blackface is hurtful to many people and doing so makes you look ignorant at best, like a bigot at worst.  Yes, of course it's a free country and you can dress however you want.  The university is also free to decide this prof damages their brand. Or perhaps they even care about not alienating students of color, who knows. I wouldn't waste a minute feeling sorry for this person; they made a conscious choice to do something ridiculous and racist (yeah, it's racist), and they're facing the consequences. On the grand scale of things, it's a petty, stupid act. I'm sure this prof isn't burning any crosses. But those little racist acts speak volumes about character, and I still think character matters. Why is being a jerk so lauded lately? Why not try to be just a little bit kind and thoughtful of others? Is it so difficult?