An incident in which a professor used the term “master” in a remark directed at a Black student has prompted Massey College to change the title it gives its leader.

On Tuesday, Michael Marrus, an emeritus professor of history and scholar of the Holocaust, was sitting with three junior fellows — graduate students who earned residence at Massey College through academic and extracurricular achievements — when Hugh Segal, the head of the college (known as the master), arrived at their table.

When Segal asked to join them, Marrus allegedly said to a Black graduate student: “You know this is your master, eh? Do you feel the lash?”

According to media reports, Segal spoke to Marrus after the students left, telling him that his comment was inappropriate. The comment was widely viewed as a reference to slavery.

Nearly 200 students and faculty signed an open letter to Segal on Wednesday, asking that Marrus be removed from his role as a senior fellow at the college.

When reached by phone, the student to whom Marrus directed his remark declined to comment, and asked that her name not be used out of concern for her safety.

When reached by the Star, Marrus also declined to comment. He directed the Star to a spokesperson, who could not be reached Friday evening.

“There is no place for overt, jocular or subtle racism here at Massey College,” Segal wrote in a statement released Friday.

“We are committed to providing an open, welcoming and inclusive academic and residential community and will ensure that it is a safe space for all our fellows.”

Segal wrote that he will change his title from master to “head of college” temporarily, until the college’s governing board can agree on a permanent title.

Massey College will also hold a town hall about racism, and provide anti-racism training to members.

The college is not governed by the University of Toronto, but is located on its campus, and some of its faculty and students are members of the university.