Letter of support for students from CSRPC faculty affiliates: November 18, 2014 Dear President Zimmer & Provost Isaacs: We are deeply concerned about recent racial incidents that have transpired on campus in recent weeks and over the past two years. Among other things, the “Politically Incorrect Maroon Confessions” website, the placing of a confederate flag on the lawn of the Office on Multicultural Student Affairs, and more recently, the worrisome expressions of racism among students on Halloween. This all suggests that the environment for students of color on campus is one of hostility, and maybe increasingly so. Beyond these incidents themselves, we find the lack of a serious response by the administration to be problematic. There seems to be the lack of a clear mechanism for mediation of these types of climate issues. This has meant that students have spent a great deal of time navigating the bureaucracy rather than simply being the brilliant students that we know they are. This is exacerbated by the fact that, in response to previous conflicts, the university has created initiatives and units that do not actually have power to effect institutional change. Indeed, to our knowledge, no disciplinary action has been taken in any of these incidents, nor has the university issued a statement of concern about these pressing issues. This failure to support our students has damaged the collective morale of the campus. We stand in solidarity with our students. Last week a number of students, representing themselves as well as student organizations, courageously spoke out about what are extremely sensitive issues that implicate their classmates. They also made what we feel to be concrete, thoughtful and reasonable demands that reflect their concern for their own wellbeing, as well as their commitment to the University of Chicago. As faculty we insist you take their demands seriously by issuing a written statement addressing each demand individually. We strongly believe that doing so will not only move the campus toward creating an environment of safety, respect and equity, but it will also help our continual efforts to diversify both the student and faculty body. We also demand a meeting between Provost Eric D. Isaacs and faculty representatives from Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture (CSRPC) to discuss a long-term plan around these issues. As faculty affiliated with CSRPC we teach many of UofC’s students of color as well as the many other students who are committed to issues of diversity and equity. As such, we feel strongly that we need to be part of this, and all, major conversations on these issues moving forward. In solidarity, 1. Michael C. Dawson, John D. MacArthur Professor of Political Science and the College; Director, Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture 2. Cathy J. Cohen, David and Mary Winton Green Professor of Political Science and the College; Chair, Department of Political Science 3. Tianna S. Paschel, Neubauer Family Assistant Professor of Political Science and the College 4. Rebecca Zorach, Professor of Art History, Romance Languages and the College 5. Marci A. Ybarra, Assistant Professor, School of Social Service Administration 6. Adrienne Brown, Assistant Professor of English 7. Randolph N. Stone, Clinical Professor of Law, The Law School 8. Christopher Taylor, Assistant Professor of English 9. Omar McRoberts, Associate Professor of Sociology and the College 10. Gina Samuels, Associate Professor, School of Social Service Administration 11. Jacqueline Stewart, Professor of Cinema and Media Studies 12. Stephan Palmié, Professor of Anthropology and Social Sciences in the College 13. Dain Borges, Associate Professor of History and the College 14. Emily Lynn Osborn, Associate Professor of African History and the College 15. Shannon Lee Dawdy, Associate Professor of Anthropology and of Social Sciences in the College 16. Melissa Gilliam, Professor of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Pediatrics 17. Salikoko Mufwene, Frank J. McLoraine Distinguished Service Professor of Linguistics and the College 18. Doriane Miller, Associate Professor of Medicine; Director, Center for Community Health and Vitality 19. Margaret Beale Spencer, Marshall Field IV Professor of Urban Education, Comparative Human Development 20. Cécile Fromont, Assistant Professor of Art History and the College 21. Ramón Gutiérrez, Preston & Sterling Morton Distinguished Service Professor in United States History and the College 22. Matthews Briones, Associate Professor of American History and the College 23. Lauren Berlant, George M. Pullman Distinguished Service Professor of English and the College 24. Waldo E. Johnson, Jr., Associate Professor, School of Social Service Administration 25. Julie Orlemanski, Assistant Professor of English 26. Craig Futterman, Clinical Professor of Law, The Law School 27. Charles M. Payne, Frank P. Hixon Distinguished Service Professor in the School of Social Service Administration 28. Philip V. Bohlman, Mary Werkman Distinguished Service Professor of Music and the Humanities in the College 29. Yoonsun Choi, Associate Professor, School of Social Service Administration 30. Anton Ford, Assistant Professor of Philosophy 31. Dexter Voisin, Professor, School of Social Service Administration 32. Loren Kruger, Professor of English and Comparative Literature 33. Chad Broughton, Senior Lecturer of Public Policy Studies in the College 34. Forrest Stuart, Assistant Professor of Sociology and the College 35. Micere Keels, Associate Professor of Comparative Human Development 36. Sonali Thakkar, Assistant Professor of English 37. Travis A. Jackson, Associate Professor of Music and the Humanities 38. Daniel Desormeaux, Associate Professor of French Literature 39. Agnes Lugo-Ortiz, Associate Professor of Latin American Literature 40. Reginald Jackson, Assistant Professor of Japanese Literature, East Asian Languages and Civilizations 41. Melvin L. Butler, Assistant Professor of Music [*new names added:] 42. Virginia Parks, Associate Professor at the School of Social Service Administration 43. Julie Saville, Associate Professor of History and the College
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 04:13:13 +0000
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