[bfsa] Embarrasing for BFSA? Disrespect for BFSA?

Cameron Hughes cahughes at cc.ysu.edu
Mon Sep 19 14:47:06 EDT 2005


Hi Arlene,

I think making a stand is putting too strongly.  It doesn't leave room
for the real nuance that at play here.

The University has taken a certain direction with Dr. Midamba. "The
perception" of the
folks out here in the rank and file is that the direction taken is
inconsistent/incompatible
with the University's stated diversity initiatives. The operative word
is "perception".
Since the University did not issue anything official about what was
happening to Dr. Midamba
in the absence of official information people make up their own
stories.  Rumors get started, things
get miscommunicated and before you know it people our outraged. Damn
outraged!!!!
Yet with all the outrage, BFSA is waiting to get the facts, thats why we
haven't returned all the calls
from the various news organizations.

What the BFSA is doing is asking Dr. Sweet to help us deal with and
reverse "the perception"  that
Midamba is being mistreated.  Dr. Midamba is extremely qualified.  He is
well respected.  He is admired by many.
According to the professors/faculty that we are talking to he has been
extremely effective in his job.
So its especially hard for some of the black people  at YSU (Africans
and African Americans)  to understand how his non-renewal is consistent
with the University's stated diversity goals.  Regardless to what
machinery that is normally in place when the old provost leaves and a
new provosts comes in, and  all the todo about "search committee this or
search committee that": the diversity objectives seem to suggest that
the University would find somewhere to put someone like Dr. Midamba. If
he was truly valued, there has to be somewhere commensurate with his
credentials.  
  

The BFSA simply wants the 'official rationalization'  for the decision
not to renew his contract 
and to understand how that rationalization lines up with the stated
diversity initiatives. We need an official word from Dr. Sweet so that
we can help effectively deal with the "perceptions" the "rumors" etc. 
In this case BFSA is partnering
with the administration to help assuage people's outrage about how they
perceive that Dr. Midamba has been treated.

Its not a matter of making a stand.  But on the other hand, the
University has to understand that in this environment when a person of
Noah Midamba's stature is let go, at the very least an explanation to
the minority
community is owed.  At the very least there has to be, if nothing else
an appearance of a committment to diversity. At this point its  a simple
matter of sensitivity and respect. The administration is a servant to
the University and its students as we all are. Everyone of us is
accountable to each other for that reason. The BFSA's mission statement
requires that we get and that we publish/communicate an official
explanation of what happened to Dr. Midamba. The actions have to be
explained in plain view for all to see and understand. Especially the
black  faculty and staff. That's not an outrageous request.  That's not
a radical black panther request.  Its a matter of simple respect.


[IF] it turns out that the official statement of  why Dr. Midamba's
contract was not renewed  shows how his termination actually furthers
the University's stated diversity initiatives then there's no problem.
[IF] it turns out that  upon deeper investigation that Dr. Midamba's
treatment in this whole  process was not incompatible with the
University's diversity initiatives then there's no problem. If it turns
out that Dr. Midamba's treatment is consistent with how the other
interim directors have been/or are treated then there's no problem.  Dr.
Sweet and others in his administration have an obligation to address
"the perception", because  that "perception" whether it is correct or
incorrect , whether they created the perception or have nothing to do
with it:  "the perception" does exist and it is leading to growing
outrage, feelings of betrayal, feelings of insecurity, accusations of
hypocrisy, feelings of being disrespected and so on among most of us in
the minority community.

I'm sure that if  Dr. Sweet is aware of who the BFSA is that he
considers the BFSA as a partner that can help realize the University's
diversity initiatives.  A partner that will help the University be the
best that it can be.  On the other hand if he is not aware of the BFSA
then he soon  will be,  and at that time he will see us as partner in
the  diversity process.


In terms of us saying something or doing something that would cause uthe
BFSA not to be respected or  that would be embarrassing
to the BFSA, well....  that kind of begs the question doesn't it?

It is quite possible that inaction on the part of the BFSA would  also
cause us to be disrespected.  Its quite possible
that BFSA could  also be embarrassed by the fact that they stood by and
did nothing, stood by and said nothing, and that everyone was so focused
on their own personal agendas and protecting their own asses that no one
pays attention  when we lose people of the stature of Dr. Midamba. If
anything is worthy of shame, disrepsect or embarrassment that is.  
Arlene I know that you are down for the cause and that you support the
position that we are taking with respect to Dr. Midamba.  I am  really
responding to not only your comments but the comments of a lot of other
folks and I'm using this one e-mail response to do it.

Its not up to BFSA to pick and choose who they will be a resource for
and who they'll ignore.  We can't arbitrarily decide that
someone is indefensible, or that someone has played bad politics, or
that someone is on someone else's shit list and to therefore
steer clear of that person.  If the request of any black faculty, staff,
student or anyone of any nationality for that matter is consistent with
the BFSA mission statement then we have an obligation to help as best we
can, even if on the surface it appears that the person does not deserve
help or is beyond help.  As you said there are always at least two sides
to every story. There's been no official press release on what happened
to Dr. Midamba, at least none that we are aware of. That alone puts a
burden on BFSA to get to the bottom of this right????


Arlene  I do maintain:

If not now...   When?
If not here...  Where?
If not this...  What?
If not us....   Who?





> Arlene Floyd wrote:
> 
> Cameron,
> 
> I commend BFSA's efforts for making a stand.  Please don't
> misunderstand and think that I am at all in disagreement.  I just want
> BFSA to address the situation in a manner that this administration
> cannot criticize but only respect.
> 
> Arlene
> 
> Cameron Hughes wrote:
> 
> > Hey Arlene
> >
> > You know that you experience and opinions and expertise are
> > appreciated
> > in the group and I certainly appreciate them personally.
> >
> > Hopefully from this point on if anyone of us is going through
> > something
> > like this the BFSA would be there as a resource.  It seems the group
> > should have been more agressive in the past. I really don't know why
> > we
> > haven't been as active as we should. Over the past couple of weeks I
> > heard a few statements that insinuated that BFSA wasn't there for
> > them.
> > That unfortunate.  We need to correct that, now is a good as time as
> > any
> > to start.
> >
> >
> > I think race is only implied here because of the mission statement
> > of
> > the BFSA.  It just happens that we were called on as a resource.
> > Dr. Midamba's credentials would be impressive regardless to what
> > race
> > there were associated with.  His performance at YSU in most respects
> > is
> > outstanding.  His YSU community support is apparently very good.  I
> > think in some respects that blackness/race in this case
> > is not an issue on our side of the discussion.  If Midamba were
> > Hispanic, Arabic, Indian, Chinese, Japanese, etc we (BFSA) should
> > offer
> > our help as a resource. I don't know what part race/blackness plays
> > in
> > the decision making on the administration side.  I'm certainly not
> > making any accusations!
> >
> > In this case we have an opportunity to help YSU meet its diversity
> > initiatives.  It may very well be the case that they aren't fully
> > aware
> > of Dr. Midamba's incredible cache of credentials.  So this process
> > is
> > helping to better educate the University about who Dr. Midamba is
> > and
> > the job that he's done and the job that he will be able to do if he
> > is
> > reinstated.  If race has nothing to do with it on the
> > administration's
> > side then we shouldn't have a problem :-)
> >
> >
> >
> > Thanx again so much,,, keep up the good work..
> >
> >
> > Cameron
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> Arlene Floyd wrote:
> >>
> >> I am well aware of what can happen in academia because I have
> >> worked
> >> at three separate universities during the past 21 years.  I have
> >> personally experienced  "things" that happen and I have had to go
> >> it
> >> alone.  My concern is that we don't want to cry the "R" word
> >> unless we
> >> know for certain.  We can acknowledge the possible unfairness in
> >> the
> >> treatment of Dr. Midamba in not allowing him to interview and ask
> >> that
> >> this action be remedied.
> >>
> >>  I spoke with someone in administration and there will be another
> >> search and maybe one of the "requests" from BFSA to President
> >> Sweet is
> >> that Dr. Midamba be allowed to apply for the "revamped" position.
> >>
> >> Just my thoughts -
> >>
> >> Arlene
> >>
> >> Cameron Hughes wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> > Arlene Floyd wrote:
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > This petition is really a normal and (should be regular) function
> >> > of
> >> > the
> >> > BFSA.
> >> > I don't know whether you were there in time enough during the
> >> > first
> >> > meeting to
> >> > hear that there were several attempts (over about a year) to get
> >> > an
> >> > audience with various members in the
> >> > administration to talk over "the two sides"
> >> >
> >> > During that first meeting we received very specific documentation
> >> > that
> >> > these attempts were for one reason or another
> >> > unsuccessful.  At this point its really all about sitting down
> >> > and
> >> > talking to the
> >> > administration about "the two sides of the story" which up until
> >> > now
> >> > it
> >> > "appears" the administration didn't deem expedient or
> >> > necessary.
> >> >
> >> > Personally I'm not taking any sides, I'm only fulfilling  my
> >> > obligations
> >> > as a meager member of the BFSA  and to the BFSA mission :-)
> >> > My name was called.  Sometimes I'm not there to answer.  This
> >> > time I
> >> > was.... :-)
> >> > The fact of the matter is the BFSA ought to be a resource for any
> >> > one of
> >> > us that this could happen to, and you never know who could be
> >> > next... It
> >> > could be anyone of us...
> >> >
> >> > If you can't make the meeting tomorrow I'll pass on your
> >> > suggestion
> >> > about "having all the facts".
> >> >
> >> > Thanx
> >> >
> >> > Cameron
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >>  Cameron,
> >> >>
> >> >>  Please make certain that the group has ALL the facts.  While I
> >> >>  don't
> >> >>  like what happened to Dr. Midamba, there is always two sides to
> >> >>  EVERY story.
> >> >>
> >> >>  Arlene
> >> >>
> >> >>  Cameron Hughes wrote:
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> > A major development took place earlier today in reference to
> >> >> > our
> >> >> > petition on behalf
> >> >> > of Dr. Midamba.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Dr. Sweet has sent Dr. Wan-tatah  a letter agreeing to meet
> >> >> > with
> >> >> > a small
> >> >> > delegation  of us  early next week
> >> >> > to discuss the petition on behalf of Dr.Midamba further.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > We would like as many of you as possible to attend an  urgent
> >> >> > meeting
> >> >> > tomorrow 9/16/2005
> >> >> > in room 121-122 in Debartlo (outside of Dr. Wan-tatah's
> >> >> > office)
> >> >> > at 4:30
> >> >> > p.m.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > The purpose of this urgent meeting is to get your feedback on
> >> >> >
> >> >> > exactly who should be in the delegation to Dr Sweet.  Also
> >> >> > your
> >> >> > thoughts, ideas, creativity are needed
> >> >> >
> >> >> > to help determine how much of agenda 1 (the particular) and
> >> >> > agenda 2(
> >> >> > the general)
> >> >> >
> >> >> > should be presented at the meeting with Dr. Sweet.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Everyone's participation, suggestions, and input are truly
> >> >> > welcomed and
> >> >> > needed. If you can't be there and
> >> >> > you have ideas please get them to us so that they can be
> >> >> > presented.  We
> >> >> > would like to take advantage of
> >> >> > the collective intelligence and wisdom that we have
> >> >> > throughout
> >> >> > our
> >> >> > group.  Steps we take in this upcoming meeting and the
> >> >> > necessary
> >> >> > future
> >> >> > meetings with Dr. Sweet will invariably have dramatic impact
> >> >> > on
> >> >> > us all.
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > See ya there.....
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Cameron
> >> >> >
> >> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> >> > bfsa mailing list
> >> >> > bfsa at lists.ysu.edu
> >> >> > http://lists.ysu.edu/mailman/listinfo.cgi/bfsa
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >
> >



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