February 12, 2008
Article was wrong about e-mail conversations
Mark Page’s story on Feb. 8 fundamentally misconstrues the email communication between me, Ruth Vanita and Diane Sands. Since his story repeats assertions of bigotry (or “bigoted, anti-Muslim attitudes”) and identifies me, and those I emailed to announce Dr. Lucas’ talks, factual correction is in order.
Professor Vanita returned from Delhi to evaluate and vote on a proposal of a new position in Islamic Studies in her academic unit, Liberal Studies. She and I corresponded, and I forwarded her letter in an email to Diane Sands and several others. Ruth never “contacted Sands.” I explained this to Page. Nor did I contact Diane in her capacity as a state legislator, but one of several colleagues and friends. In fact, Sands and other legislatures declined to attend the talks or to comment on them afterward.
Her e-mail was not unusual. Since there was no public announcement of the event, and no information available, many people were trying to find out what was happening by e-mail. Campus is closed on holidays; the scheduled day, location and topics of the talks changed several times. Several people had trouble locating the room, as there were no flyers. If the visit had not been so secretive, it might not have attracted so many people in attendance.
As for the headline. Nassar, an Arab Muslim woman and Palestinian scholar, was offered a tenure track position in History. If bigotry was an issue, she would not have been offered the job. She asked that a new, permanent position be created for her husband. Liberal Studies evaluated his presentations and resume and voted down the proposal to create a new position for him: a white, male American. So much for bigotry.
To publish about a candidate declining a position, while the offer is pending to another candidate is both old news and inappropriate. Better to publicize the talks and decline to comment on candidates until the search is over.
G.G. Weix
Professor of Anthropology
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Comments
Amen.
Posted by Tristen Gorie on 02/22/2008 at 12:23 am
