When an Anthropology professor at the American University was faced with a choice of cancelling the first day of her class 'Sex, Gender & Culture' to attend to her sick baby or carry the baby to the class, she went with the latter.

If it was just that, some might have spared her from the verbal lashing she's receiving now; instead, she boldly breastfed her baby in front of a class of 40. Little did she know that this incident would attract national attention and would spark a debate on breastfeeding policies and work place morale.

Professor Adrienne Pine wrote on her blog that soon enough after the incident, a reporter from the student newspaper, The Eagle, emailed her probing about the 'incident.'

"I was shocked and annoyed that this would be considered newsworthy, and at the anti-woman implications inherent in the email's tone," she wrote in the CounterPunch.com.

She goes on to write that the university which she considered a 'family-friendly' and 'supportive' environment became a 'hostile environment' after the persistent emailing and visitation by the reporter even after she refused to accommodate her requests.

The reporter might have been looking, she wrote, for a 'lactivist' comment. She also went on to criticize the student newspaper's 'anti-woman slant.'

Now, the 'episode' has created a huge furore with many students voicing support for her and many others expressing their dismay.

"She did what she had to do. She's a mother, and she needed to take care of her child," said American sophomore Nia McCarthy to ABC7, who was in the class when the breastfeeding happened.

"I don't think anyone was too distracted," McCarthy added. "She let us know that she was about to do it, so I wasn't too surprised. I think she handled it in the most professional way that she could."

But some did not share the views of McCarthy.

"I feel like it was really unprofessional of her," said American senior Jeff Williams to ABC7. "I feel like she should have at least stepped out of the room."

The University issued a statement Tuesday morning, which had a slight hint of disapproval with Pine's action in relation to the 'community health' as baby was sick.

"AU does have a policy that provides leave when a child is sick....AU's Accrued Sick and Safe Leave Policy provides the opportunity to take paid leave to care for the sick child and protect the health of the community," the statement reads.

According to ABC7, the university disagrees with the Sept. 5 blog-post by Pine which seems to be a combination of justification of her actions and criticism of The Eagle in the first look.

The student newspaper is reportedly still deliberating on whether to publish the story of public breast feeding.