Call for change in racial climate at UC
Nov. 15, 2013 2:24 PM


UC African American students "We just want our vo...: Black students gathered to discuss race relations after the recent resignation of the Arts and Science Dean Ron Jackson, who is black.

Written by
Cliff Peale

African-American students and faculty might disagree on their own experiences at the University of Cincinnati, but they appear to agree on one thing: Something has to change.

The resignation Tuesday of Arts & Sciences Dean Ron Jackson, who is African-American, has forced those feelings to the surface.

“I think the resignation of the dean was indicative of a bigger issue,” said Alisha Washington, a second-year student from Louisville. “The university is willing to have black students give their tuition, but are not willing to work to keep us.”

Several dozen students gathered at the center of campus Friday to express their anger. As admissions tours walked by, at least one shouted, “Do not send your children to a racist institution.”

Several pointed to Jackson’s resignation following the forced resignations of UC Police Chief Michael Cureton, who is African-American, and former President Greg Williams, who is the child of a black parent and wrote a best-selling book titled "Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black."

“They chased away the first black president,” said Sam Burbanks of Walnut Hills, a UC doctoral student. “They chased away the police chief. They chased the dean out. Something is going on here at UC.”

UC officials have said Jackson resigned voluntarily and that he will continue to teach at UC.

But Jackson acknowledged that he’s bitter about his treatment there, and his departure gives plenty of ammunition to those who feel there’s a toxic atmosphere for minorities on campus.

Only 8.2 percent of UC students are black, and only 4.2 percent of full-time UC professors. UC officials point to a diversity plan but acknowledge that they need to do more.

UC President Santa Ono wrote Friday morning to the entire campus community, saying, “I also know first hand the burden of representation and how difficult it is to be the first in any role. I know what it feels like to be in the minority.”

He said UC would do a better job recruiting and retaining under-represented students and that he would become more involved.

A group of student leaders made similar pledges, saying they were committed to working to make the campus more inclusive.

Some students said UC is being portrayed unfairly.

“Every school has racist people and every school has racist stuff,” said Leola Lynch, a freshman from Dayton. “But don’t say, ‘Don’t send your kids here.’ That’s not right.”

But Jackson’s resignation clearly stings. In only his second full year at UC, he faced public criticism from professors in A&S, UC’s biggest college.

Jackson, a Cincinnati native and UC alumnus, also faced a cartoon that circulated earlier this year with crude racial stereotypes.

“I think something needs to be done,” said Ken Ghee, who teaches Africana Studies in A&S. “They usurp the leader and them blame them for incompetence. It’s an age-old strategy.”

Ghee said Jackson tried to center his reforms around students. And since A&S faced a $7 million accumulated deficit that was there when he arrived, he had to make tough choices about where to devote resources.

“Anytime you have a collapsed economy, you’re going to have problems with leadership,” Ghee said.

UC senior Justin Christopher, an Africana Studies major from Winton Hills, said the small group of black professors and administrators needs support.

“Dean Jackson was a student here,” Christopher said. “I have a dream to be someone like Ron Jackson.”

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20131...climate-UC

I was always under the impression that a "diverse" campus included more than just white and black students...guess I was wrong...

Asian and Hispanic student populations have gone up markedly in the past half decade, but the campus is considered to lack diversity and to be racist because there is a lack of black students...makes sense? When you have an overall increase in applicants, and raised academic entrance standards, the best students will be selected as they should be...not based on race or upbringing, that right there is backwards logic.

I can't speak to any alleged incidents at UC, but when I look at the percentage of African-American students and faculty I don't see where UC is necessarily off the mark proportionately speaking. Only 11% of the population in Ohio is black. African-Americans are less likely to enter and graduate college than their white counterparts. When you look at other universities in the region (other than the HBCUs and the community colleges) UC matches up very well. By comparison, Ohio State has lower percentages of African-American students and faculty (7.6% students and 3.25% faculty). I am not even going to bother looking up the statistics for Miami U. and Xavier as it is well known the number of African-Americans at those schools are extremely low.

I know UC is committed to diversity and I trust the university to continue to attract the best and brightest students-- of all races and nationalities.

Perhaps it is a class project for Protest 101.

(11-16-2013 08:59 AM)beck Wrote:  Perhaps it is a class project for Protest 101.

It does follow the Saul Alinsky playbook.

I guess this is the cartoon?