My apologies, dear colleagues, for this embarrassing turn-of-events. Clearly
Jean and I have some continuing misunderstandings to address in private.
Please be assured of my determined intentions to support the efforts of
whatever task force or surveys the Senate decides to authorize regarding
racism. What levity you found in my earlier note was directed only at
myself, and stems from Maggie's light-hearted reference to my "famous
questionnaires." My intention was to respond in good faith to Jean's public
call to declare my willingness to serve as a resource for whatever actions
on racism the Senate decides to consider.
A chronic worrier, though, I remain concerned about the potential for any
study of racism at UTC -- even the most professional studies done with the
best of intentions -- to lead to the identification of individuals suspected
of racist thoughts and actions. I'm sure there are ways to conduct the
research we seek without this peril, but I still worry. If my concern came
off as a manifestation of racial insensitivity, I sincerely apologize. I
certainly did not intend to offend or patronize, or make light of the
serious issue of racism on campus.
Gavin
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean Howard-Hill" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Cc: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2007 8:19 PM
Subject: Response to Gavin's Racism Task Force
Gavin:
Now that you finally have come out of hiding after our rather heated e-mail
exchanges, I find your response as Faculty Senate President offensive. The
tone is not at all one in which I would think someone who is in leadership
would have. This is a very serious matter. So to be sarcastic and
patronizing in your response is totally unacceptable.
Your statements “Besides, it's been two months since I sent out my last
survey and I'm
itching to administer another.”; and “OK, I'll bite. Be it known here and
forever that Faculty Senate President Townsend is all in favor of race
sensitivity training and the administration
of surveys and questionnaires about racial attitudes and such. Racism in
academe is an important issue, and if the Senate wishes to appoint an ad hoc
task force to develop said surveys and/or organize sensitivity workshops for
UTC, then I'm all for it.” are highly offensive and patronizing. We don’t
need this kind of response at a time when people are hurting and engaging in
higher levels of discussion. I am disappointed, as I was also disappointed
with your private e-mail responses, of which I have been told by you that
because I am Second Vice President of the Faculty Senate, I should not
share.
Also, we need those with expertise in this area to deal with this issue, so
that it is not escalated unnecessarily into a race war. The Faculty Senate
does not have this kind of expertise. Neither are they the proper mechanism
for doing so. This also shows a lack of your understanding in dealing with
racial matters.
Also, to suggest there would be a witch hunt minimizes the kind of
professional and sincere pursuit of the truth which I am confident will be
instituted by those in leadership at UTC.
Hopefully, your e-mail is not because of racial insensitivity, but rather
because you failed to think through your response before posting it.
Nevertheless, as a member of the Senate Faculty Executive Committee, I
caution you to be careful what and how you speak as our leader, so that this
does not add fuel to the existing racial fire.
I would rather have said this in private, but since you posted publicly,
unfortunately it has to be addressed publicly, so that it is not mistaken as
the position of the Faculty Senate.
Jean
-----Original Message-----
From: Gavin Townsend <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 19:36:31 -0400
Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] Racism Task Force
OK, I'll bite. Be it known here and forever that Faculty Senate President
Townsend is all in favor of race sensitivity training and the administration
of surveys and questionnaires about racial attitudes and such. Racism in
academe is an important issue, and if the Senate wishes to appoint an ad hoc
task force to develop said surveys and/or organize sensitivity workshops for
UTC, then I'm all for it.
Besides, it's been two months since I sent out my last survey and I'm
itching to administer another.
I'd even be in favor of efforts to document incidents of racism on campus
with the goal of improving sensitivity. I only ask that we take great care
to avoid identifying specific individuals suspected of racism. Given the
passionate nature of this issue, we must proceed professionally and with
cool heads. No witch hunting allowed.
Tempting though it is.
Many thanks to Jean, Maggie, Dorothy, and Shirl for calling for this
initiative.
Gavin Townsend
Faculty Senate Pres.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean Howard-Hill" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, July 27, 2007 5:13 PM
Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] Thanks Maggie!
Again thanks Maggie.
I am merely going to offer a plan and make a recommendation to UTC and
Chancellor Brown, since it is my policy that if I present a problem, I also
try to present a workable solution.
I want to be clear that I have not spoken with anyone in leadership at UTC,
(and except for calling it to the attention of the University, and
challenging us all to do what is right), this is all that I have done. How
far this goes is left up to the University. However, as a consultant, I
have done work on race, and gender discrimination. A part of the package I
am suggesting is a two-part survey-questionnaire that identifies racial
incidents, and racial attitudes. It also includes a recommendation for a
Race Relations Task Force, as well as sensitivity and racial identification
seminars, workshops and etc., and will make use of those who have expertise
in this area, so that it does not turn into a race war. I have seen this
work with unbelievable results.
In putting together this recommendation, I welcome any input; keeping in
mind that it is only a recommendation.
I also think it might be a good idea to hear Gavin, as well as the Faculty
Senate state their own personal and organizational position before they are
offered as resources. We need to know where not only the University stands,
but also where individuals stand, since the University is made up of
individuals. I look forward to hearing both his and the Faculty Senate’s
position, and hopefully it is forthcoming.
Thanks again!
Jean
-----Original Message-----
From: maggie mcmahon <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:55:47 -0400
Subject: Re: [UTCSTAFF] Thanks Maggie!
> This is a new day - one where either you support/condone racism or you
> denounce it and work together to make UTC and America a better place.
> There is no straddling the fence on this one. So regardless of who you
> are, and what positions you hold here at the University, to be silent in
> either direction is no longer an option.
>
>
I don't remember where I read this (many years ago), so I can neither
take credit for or attribute it...
Every white person in the US benefits in many ways from living in a
racist society: de facto segregation, driving an expensive car without
fear of a traffic stop, getting waited on in the store... the examples
are ENDLESS. To be white and to remain complacent is in effect an act
of racism. (Please, before anyone takes issue with this - think about
it, it's subtle and true.)
At the very least, we have a profound responsibility to provide for the
students in our charge a learning environment and university experience
free of the tinge of racism.
I'm glad (and frankly relieved) you have heard from a number of people
off the list. I expect that there will be some real change on campus as
a result of heightened awareness. For each person who has responded,
there are undoubtedly many more who truly care but don't really know
what to do.
People stay at UTC because it is an incredibly rewarding place to
teach. We get to observe our students grow from "deer in the
headlights" freshmen to confident graduating seniors. This is
incompatible with racism and I can't imagine anyone not willing to
address this issue campus-wide. Maybe you can help Gavin can come up
with one of his famous questionnaires to identify and understand where
we are... maggie
Maggie McMahon
Art Department
* UTCSTAFF home page: http://raven.utc.edu/archives/utcstaff.html *
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Dr. Jean Howard-Hill
Political Science Department
419 Fletcher Hall
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37403
423-425-5702
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