I talked to coaches and athletes and administrators. In the aftermath of The Wallys, I spent two weeks reporting. This is what he meant: Isn’t it wonderful to know that actually, despite what you’ve heard, the University of Portland does not have a problem with institutional sexism? He said, of all the employees who work in this administration, isn’t it wonderful to know that over 50 percent are women? It was a logical fallacy that insulted the intelligence of everyone in the room. He said after the difficult conversation, it was time to bring up some good news. I thought in that moment that maybe this event and the uproar that followed could finally make the change that UP needed.īut then Greene spoke. Students spend four years at this university how could they not be changed for the better? How did we fail at instilling the values of equality and respect? How could our leaders set an example by sitting idly by as a student vulgarly made women the punchline? The room had just been buzzing with concerned professors, asking questions about how to make their students better, how to have conversations in class about rape culture and consent. It took the blame, admitted that there is still more learning to do, admitted that there is a problem, and it should have been acknowledged sooner.īut soon after, University Provost Thomas Greene made sure all those good things meant nothing. It did all the good things apologies should do. I sat on the opposite side of the room as he read it aloud at the April 17 Academic Senate meeting in Franz Hall. Mark Poorman wrote a good second apology.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |