People Are Raising Money To Send Oregon Professor Pelted With Snowballs On A Warm Vacation

Retired University of Oregon professor Sherwin Simmons was in the news this weekend after a video of him caught in the middle of a student snowball fight went viral.

The UO snowball fight is currently under investigation by the university to determine if any students violated school policy. Simmons described the harrowing experience to UO student newspaper The Daily Emerald.

"Someone started banging on the car and it was like the snowballs were fists hitting the car. Then I was blinded by people both tossing snow on the window and racking snow off the roof. They were out of control," Simmons said.

Many on the Internet have expressed their sympathy for the professor, who they say was the unfortunate victim of some truly disrespectful bullying from the students. One person has gone so far as to attempt to raise money for Simmons, starting an Indiegogo fundraising page to crowdsource a paid vacation for the professor - preferably somewhere warm.

According to the page's creator, "My point is basically to show these kids that the world is on this guy's side. Not theirs."

Here's the description from the Indiegogo page:

By now you might have seen the video. A group of unruly college kids at the University of Oregon were bullying drivers as they passed through campus. Throwing snowballs, dumping snow, blocking and taunting drivers. One brave professor decided to confront them, and the mob mentality continues as he stands outside his car. The very students he has dedicated his career to, showing absolutely zero respect. It is sad to think these students are all at a university acting this way, when so many cannot even afford to be there and want to be - to a professor. I think he deserves a much needed break. If anything, to show these students - bullies - who the real world sides with.

The Indiegogo page has currently raised more than $200. You can check it out here >>