I returned today to discover the issue of racism on UTC's campus under
discussion, and I want to add my thanks to Jean and all who have been
willing to address this serious concern.  There is a human tendency to want
to avoid painful subjects, or believe they are not really problems, but we
cannot do this in the present case without paying a terrible price.  Part of
that price has been the loss of some very well-credentialed and heavily
contributing African American faculty, and African American administrators
over the past few years, after much effort to bring such persons to UTC.
Others of us who remain do experience frustration when race (and/or gender)
appears to be the only valid reason for certain conditions or situations.
Then, as Jean pointed out, we also lose too many African American students
who would add so much to our campus if they were embraced as bright,
talented young people, rather than "black students" with a question mark
about their "real" capabilities for college-level work.  Racial attitudes
are often more subliminal than conscious.  Having been socialized in a
race-based society, most of us do not realize the extent to which our
perceptions, actions and decisions reflect bias.  It is also so easy to find
"acceptable" reasons for denying an opportunity, devaluing accomplishments,
or giving a lower grade to a student.  Until this is brought out through
serious discussion and review, many will remain blind and believe they are
not helping to perpetuate a system of inequality.  

This is why I strongly endorse a task force, or other formally organized
mechanism, that would cogently and sensitively examine this issue on our
campus.  Just the disproportionate loss of our African American faculty is a
compelling reason alone, but we know there are many strong reasons from all
of the points made in other emails on this matter.  

Barbara Medley    


Barbara C. Medley, Ph. D.
Associate Professor and Director
Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Geography
Center for Applied Social Research (CASR)
(423) 425-2342
Community Outreach Partnership Center (COPC)
(423) 266-5729    
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-----Original Message-----
From: UTC Staff E-Mail List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Jean Howard-Hill
Sent: Monday, July 30, 2007 10:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [UTCSTAFF] Understanding is Key

To All:

I know it may appear that this issue of racism has led to a divide with
Gavin and me.  But actually, what has happened with the two of us is all a
part of the healthy, yet sometimes combated exchange that comes with the
process of racial reconciliation and sensitivity.  Often there are good
people at both corners of the ring, but because each has their own idea of
what is or is not racial insensitivity, they find themselves clashing. That
is all that has happened with Gavin and me. 

The good thing is that both our hearts are in the right place.  This is the
difference between those who are "Racially Insensitive", and those who are
"Racist". Racially insensitive people for the most part have good hearts and
move with what they believe to be good intentions. It is only through
dialogue with those offended that they can come to understand the offense
from the eyes of both the offender and the offendee. It is just the opposite
with a "Racist". A racist is someone whose heart is darkened with hate, and
they move with deliberate intentions to offend, kill and even destroy. What
is within the heart makes the difference, and is what defines and set the
two apart.

I say all of this because we need to know and understand the difference, so
that we are not fighting unnecessarily with each other and are not afraid to
engage in dialogue that although stormy at first, results in a better
understanding of each other. It might take a few rounds with the gloves on.
However, at the end, if the heart is right and is intent upon doing good,
GOOD will be the results!

Students soon will return, flooding the UTC campus with a shower of
different races and ethnicities, and we as faculty, staff, and even
administrators have a responsibility to do our best to make sure their
learning environment is not disrupted by how we as leaders and mentors are
dealing with the issue of racism and racial insensitivity.

The most important part of the university is our students. They are precious
to us all, and we need to safeguard them as much as possible. Coming out of
the Civil Rights Era, I know from personal experience the profound, negative
and lasting impact dealing with racism can have on students when having to
deal with this in and outside of the classroom. This is something we want to
avoid with all due diligence. I LOVE ALL STUDENTS at UTC, and see them all
in the same light. I see them as I would my own daughter.   I believe others
have this same love of students.  So I strongly encourage us to continue our
quest for racial sensitivity and to even root out those, if any, who are
racists.  But I even strongly encourage us to set examples through the way
in which we engage each other and deal with this very sensitive issue.

Thanks for allowing me to speak out on this issue, and to even offer, for
what it is worth, this bit of wisdom.

Now I am going to try to get back to some degree of normalcy, without this
issue consuming all of my time. It has been set in motion, and in the end, I
am confident we will see a more racially sensitive campus.

Jean 


Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
Political Science Department
419 Fletcher Hall
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
423-425-5702

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