Since the release of Jeff Stepp’s column expressing concern about Professor Katz, the entire campus has been in an uproar. Letters to the editor, op-eds, public forums and private discussions revolve around this issue and all the facets it could possibly contain. All the local news channels have reported on this issue, the community outside the University has become involved. But it seems that the voice that should be the loudest has remained remarkably quiet. Why hasn’t the administration commented on this issue?
In previous times of disharmony, e.g. the SWA sit-in, the Greek alcohol moratorium, etc., a statement has been issued to the entire campus with a personalized note from Chancellor Wrighton, addressing concerns and proposing a plan of action. The situation that has arisen from the current controversy is at least as dire as the removal of booze from the Greek system. People’s lives are being severely impacted, and the University has a responsibility to maintain order on this campus and harmony within the student body. The administration needs to take a stand. Various individuals within the administration have made remarks about academic freedom, and a statement about the University’s policy on web page content was released to a local television station. Neither of these reactions, however, addresses the real issue being called into question.
Let’s be clear: we’re not asking the University to take a particular stance. We’d just like it to take any stance. End the silence. Students and professors are questioning University’s decision to hire a physics professor some consider bigoted and unscientific, and those in charge either need to defend Professor Katz and his actions or take some action of their own. The silence from Brookings Hall is deafening; the only position they are currently defending is indifference, and that is unacceptable.
Ignoring a problem is not the path to a solution. This University is accountable to the students who pay money in tuition. By blatantly ignoring students’ and faculty members’ concerns, the administration has failed in more ways than one.
If even one student’s voice goes unanswered, there is a problem. Just within the pages of Student Life over the past couple of weeks, many students have voiced concerns about this situation. This problem is in print, and it is not going away. The administration cannot leave the onus on the student newspaper to air all concerns and abandon students to fend for themselves. There’s a momentous controversy happening, Chancellor Wrighton. Where do you stand and what do you propose we do?