Knee-Jerk Reactions Imperil Good Politics
Marc Blecher, Professor of Politics and East Asian Studies
April 29, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: Identity politics are crucial, but they are not one size that fits all. Our current crisis shows us the dangers of kneejerk identity politics. The criticism of Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition Joy Karega’s Facebook posts has nothing to do with her race, gender o...
Black Professors Pressured into Solidarity
Meredith M. Gadsby, Associate Professor of Africana Studies
April 23, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editor: On April 10, my colleague Marc Blecher sent an email addressed to me and carbon copied to a select group of tenured Africana-identified faculty, along with Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition Joy Karega. The note reads as follows: “Hi, Meredith. I see you’re ‘Still...
College Fails to Address Antisemitism on Campus
Sidney Rosenfeld, Professor Emeritus of German
April 23, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
Editor’s Note: Professor Rosenfeld prefers using “antisemitism” instead of “anti-Semitism,” the latter of which he considers a misnomer. To the Editors: Twenty years ago, in March 1996, invited to campus by Third World House, Kwame Ture ([previously known as] Black Panther leader Stokel...
College Must Examine Karega Case without Bias
Booker C. Peek, Emeritus Associate Professor of Africana Studies
April 23, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editor: Oberlin College faculty members meet this Monday to address the issues of anti-Semitism, racism and bigotry on campus. At least to some extent, Professor Joy Karega’s posts on the internet that have been deemed anti-Semitic, not just anti-Zionist, with calls coming from many quart...
In Wake of Anti-Semitism Debate, Oberlin Must Remain Inclusive
Booker C. Peek, Emeritus Associate Professor of Africana Studies
April 15, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: Oberlin College is the institution that pioneered education for women and blacks in the 19th century and deserves to be forever renowned for those early footprints of justice. But it is a college today that seeks to deepen and broaden those footprints by its feats of translating int...
Alumni Encourage Student Voices, Leadership
Lorri Olán, Oberlin College Alumni Association President
April 15, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editors: As a first year student, I am sure I never considered what it would be like to be an alumnus of Oberlin College. I am equally certain I did not notice alumni who visited campus throughout the year, let alone make it a point to engage in conversations with them to hear their stories,...
College Must Openly Condemn Bigotry, Anti-Semitism
Jade Schiff, Assistant Professor of Politics
April 15, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editors, OPINIONS
To the Editor: In the wake of revelations about anti-Semitic Facebook posts by Professor Joy Karega, our College community finds itself once more on a precarious edge. Sometimes it seems like we live here full-time. This is not itself a bad thing, though it is difficult. Precariousness can be a si...
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...
