General Studies Lounge - ARCHIVE 2006-2011

Dear GS
I am not afraid of cowards. What scares me tonight is that we as a generation of students, only seem to react and get mobilized when the divisions and separations within our society are held right under our nose. I think with shame, of the times I didn’t challenge a friend or colleague who used a slur to describe someone. Or the times I choose to smile and nod when someone told a racist joke. Most times I do challenge this offensive vocabulary when I hear it, but if cowards have taught me anything about myself, it is that “most times” is not enough. Getting outraged only at the outrageous is not enough. It is the everyday comments that go unnoticed by many, that is the true tragedy of our generation.

I am in no way advocating for superficial “political correctness” as we have come to hear speech referred to in this country. This linguistic difficulty is symptomatic of broader problems that transcend issues of vernacular. There is not enough discord about the problems of race in this country. It is tempting to say, “ah, those are the problems of the past” but if these two weeks have illustrated anything, it is that we need to challenge the issues our parents left on the table for us.

There are a few issues on this campus that I would like the address, as a way to start this conversation. At a meeting of student leaders yesterday, many concerns were discussed. The following are by no means a comprehensive list, but some that stood out to me. First and foremost, students expressed the need to an Ethic Studies Department. Related to that, was the need to have the core curriculum changed to reflect the diversity that our school espouses. Another concern is the tenure process for professors. It should never be that the politics held by an otherwise qualified applicant, will affect their chances of being approved. While I do not know enough about either subject right now, I intend to educate myself and invite leaders from the campus community to address council so that we can learn how to be an ally for these and the many other issues brought up by students. I intend the lend all the weight afforded me by the Gssc, in order to help make the voices of students be heard.

I look forward to continuing this blog as a forum to address issues among the GS community. I also hope that it can serve as a tool to mobilize GS to participate in student activism. Tomorrow , October 12th from 11AM to 1PM in 555 Learner Hall, there will be a forum to discuss these past two weeks, hosted by the GSsc. It is an opportunity for ALL students to express themselves, and I sincerely hope that you ALL are able to attend. There is too much at stake to choose silence.

As most of you now know, a terrible incident of bias occurred at
Teachers College yesterday, directed at a member of the faculty.
Teachers College is a cherished affiliate of Columbia University
with its own president, Susan Fuhrman, to whom I have offered our
support and assistance. We may be two independent institutions, but
we are one community; and we stand together in our commitment to
oppose the frightening sentiments that lay behind this act.

Tolerance and mutual respect are among the core values of our
diverse community, and all of us must confront acts of hate
whenever they occur within it. As I said last night, an attack on
the dignity of any member of our community is an assault on all of
us.

I will be meeting with student leaders this afternoon, and other
members of the administration will be communicating with faculty
and students in the coming days. Our mission as a university
includes addressing the most important and searing issues of our
time, and we have a particular obligation to respond forcefully to
events that affront our values.

Sincerely,

Lee C. Bollinger

Dean Mary McGee's e-mail to the GS Student Body:

Dear GS students,
Many of you may have heard about the incident at
Teachers College (TC) yesterday. I wanted to forward to you the letter
the President of TC sent to the TC community. There is a forum this
afternoon at TC that will discuss this matter and the concerns it
raises. I share President Furhman's condemnation of this hateful act.

Mary McGee
Dean of Students and Associate Dean of Faculty
Columbia University School of General Studies

To the TC Community:

The police were here this morning because a hangman's noose was
discovered on the office door of one of our African American faculty
members. The incident has been reported to the New York City Police
Department (Detectives Bureau of Manhattan) and is under active
investigation by the Hate Crimes Task Force.

The TC community and I deplore this hateful act, which violates every
Teachers College and societal norm.

Anyone who has any information about this incident is urged to
immediately contact (anonymously or otherwise) any of the following:

The 26th Precinct Detective Squad (212 678-1351);

Crime stoppers (1 800 577-TIPS);

John DeAngelis, Chief of Public Safety (212 678-4180);

Janice Robinson, TC General Counsel and Executive Director,
President's Office of Diversity and Community (212 678-3732).

Susan Fuhrman