As a former collegiate debater, Edward Hammond called it a difficult situation involving a campus activity he loves.

But as Fort Hays State University's president, he said the choice was clear, given his debate coach's "mooning" of a counterpart from the University of Pittsburgh and what Dr. Hammond called a wider decline of civility within college debating.

At a news conference yesterday, he announced the dismissal of Bill Shanahan, an assistant professor of communication studies at Fort Hays. In a video posted on the Internet, Dr. Shanahan pulled down his pants and exposed his underwear as he and University of Pittsburgh debate coach Shanara Reid-Brinkley engaged in a profane shouting match that disrupted a national debate competition.

Dr. Hammond also suspended the campus debate program pending resolution of what the school in Hays, Kan., believes are problems with the activity on a national level that include profane language.

In a statement and subsequent phone interview, Dr. Hammond said his coach violated the school's faculty code of ethics.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of speech, but these actions are not acceptable for someone who is representing our university," he said. "Professor Shanahan's conduct falls below the standard established to protect our university, its faculty, students and alumni.

"If the coach of one of our athletic teams became angry and 'mooned' officials, student-athletes and fans during a sports event, he or she would no longer be a coach at Fort Hays," he said.

The March confrontation occurred at a Wichita, Kan., event sponsored by the Cross Examination Debate Association. The episode gained widespread attention this month after someone posted a video clip of it on the Internet site YouTube, prompting investigations by both schools.

Pitt has been mum on the incident and its own inquiry.

"We are not commenting. If there is anything that happens it will likely be a personnel issue and will be confidential," Pitt spokesman John Fedele said.

Asked whether a Pitt professor's use of profanity in a public setting would be at odds with university policy, Mr. Fedele had no immediate comment and said he would inquire further.

Dr. Shanahan, in a statement released by Fort Hays, said he appreciated the university's support over the years and hoped the incident wouldn't detract from the debate program or his contributions, "which are far greater than a nine-minute YouTube clip."

"I am terribly sorry that my actions reflected poorly on the university," he said. "However, they must be judged in the unique context of college debate, marked by its passion and rigorous intellectual engagement."

He led the team to a national championship during a decade as its coach.

Dr. Reid-Brinkley, an assistant communication professor, could not be reached for comment.

Officials from the debate association say they plan a dialogue with members on how to "improve curriculum and professional conduct at future events." Gordon Stables, association first vice president, said he was saddened by the episode and respected Fort Hays' decision, but he also said the incident isn't reflective of the thousands of campus debates involving the association.

"Students are operating in a culture where civility is declining," he said. "I reject the assertion that civility in debate is declining. I would say, if anything, we're trying to hold or teach the standards of civility in a very difficult cultural moment."

Yesterday's decision by Fort Hays followed an investigation that included watching video from a 90-minute contest between the school and Towson University that preceded the confrontation, as well as other contests on the debate association's Web site. Dr. Hammond said what he saw was "laced with four-letter words and lack of respect" and that he wanted to seize a teachable moment.

"Our investigation indicated that there has been a decline in the civility and respect" in collegiate debating that may reflect society, he said. "I'm not talking about content. They can discuss whatever subject they want. But I believe you can make your points in a civil way."

He said debate has tremendous educational benefit and was one of his most rewarding experiences while a student at what is now Emporia State University. But, he said, "the kind of debate being used today in much of college debate falls short of our educational standards."

Pitt students were among debaters from about 70 universities in the competition and were already eliminated when Fort Hays and Towson began their match. The argument occurred in the postdebate round over an earlier, successful effort by the Fort Hays team to remove Dr. Reid-Brinkley as a debate judge.