Faculty Letter Leads to Substantive Administrative Response
Marc Blecher, Professor of Politics
April 15, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editor: Thanks to my colleagues [Professors Kozol, Lee, Pérez and Romano] for writing [the above letter to the editor, “Professors Urge Campus to Engage in Inclusive Discussion”]. I’m sure I join those who did sign the statement in saying that we too fully respect the decision of [tho...
Professors Urge Campus to Engage in Inclusive Discussion
Wendy Kozol, Shelley Lee, Gina Pérez, and Renee Romano
April 15, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editor: Regarding the recent statement on anti-Semitism written by Professor of Politics Marc Blecher and signed by over 170 faculty, we would like to add our voices to the conversation and explain why we did not sign our names. While we agree with many of the statement’s sentiments and on...
Tourist Experience of Israel Doesn’t Show Whole Picture
K.S., College junior
April 8, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
Editor’s note: This letter references a letter to the editor from David D. Gladfelter, OC ’58, published April 1. To the Editors: To those alumni no longer on campus who refuse to consider claims that the State of Israel participates in colonialist behavior, who out-of-hand reject Israel’s ...
U.S. Election Will Affect More than Residents
Melissa Cabat, College junior
April 8, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: When I arrived in Australia in late January for my semester abroad, I foolishly expected to spend the next couple of months somewhat separated from the mayhem of the American political system. Yet, on my first night in Brisbane, upon hearing my accent, I was accosted by two businessmen...
Alumnus Challenges Board to Acknowledge Black Birthright
Delbert Spurlock, OC '63
April 1, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
Editor’s Note: This letter references the March 5 email to students and faculty from Board of Trustees Chair Clyde McGregor, OC ’74. To the Editors: Resolved: The interests and policies of the State of Israel compromise the democratic birthright of Black Americans. The dissembling response...
Complex Relationship between Israel, Palestine Best Explored in Person
David D. Gladfelter, OC '58
April 1, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: To those on campus today who portray Israel as a colonial state responsible for genocide, I would ask, in the words of my late professor and fellow Francophile, Lawrence Wilson, [referencing the character Baron Munchausen], “Vas you dere, Sharlie?” My wife and I have been ...
Administration Cannot Ignore Allegations of Anti-Semitism
Melissa Landa, OC '86 and President, Oberlin Chapter of Alums for Campus Fairness
April 1, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: For the past four weeks, the Oberlin community has been in turmoil as a result of Professor Joy Karega’s public anti-Semitic social media posts and the various responses they have elicited. Of all the responses I have seen, I am grateful to Clyde McGregor, OC ’74, and the Board ...
Jewish Students Oppose College’s Response to Karega Case
Sophie Weinstein, Sylvie Rosenkalt, Jacob Firman, Galen Lansberg, and Natalia Shevin
March 15, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
Editor's Note: This letter was published in our print issue on Friday, March 11, which was signed by Jewish Students of SFP. SFP refrains from actions or letters on Jewish students' behalf, given that it is a Palestine solidarity organization. To the Editors: As current Oberlin students and...
Board Challenges Academic Freedom
Roger Copeland, Professor of Theater and Dance
March 11, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: In a March 5 email to members of the Oberlin students and faculty, Clyde McGregor, OC ’74, and chair of the College’s Board of Trustees, expresses the Board's’ collective concern over allegedly anti-Semitic postings on social media by an Oberlin faculty member. The Trustees ca...
Professor’s Posts Create False Image of Israel
Isaac Shub, College senior
March 11, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
Editor’s Note: Since this letter was submitted, College President Marvin Krislov and the Board of Trustees have both released statements about Professor Karega’s posts on social media. To the Editors: I don’t know that Professor Karega’s online postings are anti-Semitic (though they mig...
Campus Should Cooperate During Polarizing Time
The Alumni Leadership Council, Oberlin Alumni Association
March 11, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: We, the members of the Alumni Leadership Council of the Oberlin Alumni Association, are pained that a number of events have polarized our beloved Oberlin community along racial, religious and cultural lines. These events compel us to confront issues of bias, discrimination and harass...
Oberlin Must Embrace New Era of Divestment
Cecilia Wallace, Naomi Roswell, Hayden Arp, Jasper Clarkberg, and Ellie Lezak
March 4, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: It is remarkable to be on a college campus that has three simultaneous divestment campaigns. Students at Oberlin are encouraging the administration to sell its stock holdings in three harmful, unjust industries: fossil fuel extraction and combustion, private prisons and the Israeli...