Georgia professors bristle at questions from GOP lawmaker
By JEFF AMYJanuary 30, 2021 GMT
ATLANTA (AP) A Georgia lawmaker is trying to find out whether any of the state’s public universities are teaching about white privilege or oppression, part of a larger national debate over how colleges should teach about American history and race relations.
University System of Georgia Chancellor Steve Wrigley asked the system’s 26 colleges and universities on Jan. 21 to research the information after state Rep. Emory Dunahoo, a Gillsville Republican, submitted questions on the topic to Wrigley following budget hearings.
Some faculty members are bristling at the questions, saying they intrude into a professor’s academic freedom and are part of an effort by Republicans to impose their vision of history and social relations. Conservatives, though, say they’re fighting left-wing indoctrination by professors.
Georgia Educators Outraged After State Lawmaker Asked If They re Teaching About White Privilege
On 1/29/21 at 11:51 AM EST
Educators in Georgia are speaking out against a Republican state representative who requested information from various public college and university officials about whether or not students were being taught that white people are privileged and oppressive. The frustration is grounded in the basic idea of the free pursuit of inquiry and political independence of higher education as defined in the phrase academic freedom, University of North Georgia s Dr. Matthew Boedy told
Newsweek on Friday.
According to the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Representative Emory Dunahoo, who is white, sent a series of questions to school leaders last week, including: Are any classes within the Georgia public school system or the University System of Georgia teaching students who identify as white, male, heterosexual, or Christian are intrinsically privileged and oppressive,
Press release content from Business Wire. The AP news staff was not involved in its creation.
Kennesaw State Launches The Radow Institute for Social Equity
January 27, 2021 GMT
KENNESAW, Ga. (BUSINESS WIRE) Jan 27, 2021
Kennesaw State is making a commitment to advance the understanding and impacts of social equity and disparity, through the launch of The Radow Institute for Social Equity (RISE).
The Institute, named and endowed by long-time KSU benefactor Norman J. Radow, will seek to address the challenges of social justice, equity and economic inequality while developing sustainable solutions that help address pressing social challenges and produce real change.
As a student with at-risk family members, I worry about attending in-person classes. I have a sister with asthma and a physician father who has his own responsibility to protect himself and his patients against the virus. Many other students suffer from similar family situations. This is why I find it unfathomable that the administration has not offered alternative options to those who do not feel comfortable attending classes in-person.
When I created my class schedules for both the fall and spring semesters, I was shocked at the absence of remote alternatives. I took matters into my own hands and contacted professors individually. As I explained my family situation, I inquired as to whether they would be willing to offer remote versions of their courses. The majority of professors and department heads insisted on in-person attendance, citing their obligation to push for a hybrid classroom model.
Reply
Trussville resident Blake Gordon made the President s List at Kennesaw State University. (Shutterstock)
KENNESAW, GA Trussville resident Blake Gordon was among the more than 5,000 Kennesaw State students honored for academic excellence in the Fall 2020 semester by making the President s List.
To be named to the President s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed at least 9 semester hours with a term grade point average of 4.0.
Kennesaw State is one of the 50 largest public institutions in the country. KSU offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its nearly 38,000 students. With 13 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the third-largest university in the state.