resign
 

ebruary 12, 2003

Speaking Without Thinking

February 07, 2003

You couldn't be blamed for thinking you were in a time warp.

In comments that should inspire a collective wince on UNC's campus, a
contract faculty member in the School of Social Work included markedly racist
comments in her Jan. 13 master's class called "Social Work and Practice With
Couples."

Contract faculty member Martha Lamb allegedly told her class, without
explanation, that someone had told her that NAACP stands for "Niggers Ain't
Acting Like Colored People." In addition, a student in the class said that after
he brought his concerns to Lamb, she replied by saying, "I will try not to treat
you as an African American. I will try to treat you like a person." Two-thirds of
enrolled students have dropped the course since the incident.

If this is true, Lamb explicitly violated the University's Racial Harassment
Policy, one part of which states, "It is the responsibility of every employee and
student in the University community to strive to create an environment free of
racial harassment."

More importantly, these sentiments simply have no place at a university that
strives to be a "light on the hill," especially in the year 2003.

This page never would call for disciplinary action based on the protected speech
of an individual. But in the interests of the University and herself, Lamb must
issue a public apology and should immediately resign from her position at UNC.

Administrators at the School of Social Work commendably convened a town
meeting Monday to hear students' concerns. More than 250 people turned out,
demonstrating the severity of the faculty member's comments. Unfortunately,
Lamb was either unable to attend or chose not to.

Coming out of this town meeting was the appalling indication that this was not
the first time a School of Social Work faculty member has led a racism-tinted
class. In a school that has a mission of helping all families and communities, the
last thing students need is for professors to espouse outdated and unfounded
prejudices.

Also, University administrators should present the few students remaining in
Lamb's class options for learning the same material in a racism-free
environment. They should work quickly to find a professor to teach an alternate
section of the same course.

And while students said administrators within the School of Social Work were
reasonably responsive to their complaints, they voiced frustration that they were
not properly notified about how to file a formal complaint against Lamb.
Students should be completely informed about their options.

Although the racial harassment code calls on members of the University
community to work out these issues with the offending party directly, this
situation goes beyond this recommended course of action.

A grievance committee should be set up to investigate and resolve the
accusations of racism, as permitted in the code. It is likely that only this formal
setting will allow for both sides to state their cases and for the appropriate
solution to be reached.

From recent controversies surrounding people from former U.S. Senate
Majority Leader Trent Lott to basketball star Shaquille O'Neal, it is painfully
clear that racism remains an issue facing this country. Racism is the last place,
however, this campus should follow suit.

As a leading public university, UNC has a responsibility for maintaining a
tolerant and accepting educational arena. The "n-word" just doesn't belong here,
and neither does Lamb.