2008 Woodie Awards
Black professors often uninvolved on campus
Shane Daniels
Issue date: 1/25/05 Section: Forum
For example: why, in 2005, are there still negative images of blacks on television? Why is there such a large percentage of minorities living in poverty (African Americans, 24 percent; Hispanics, 28 percent, according to U.S Census Bureau)? Why are black neighborhoods so poor, filled with poor resources, and engulfed with a poor educational system, as opposed to white neighborhoods? The majority of ablebodied citizens are aware that these unfortunate situations exist.
However, few understand that these are simply effects of previous causes. The present is always a result of the past.
Naturally, as a college student, it would seem as though the ?professor? is responsible for making sure that the student is well aware of the knowledge of the past and how it relates to the situations of today. The professor of so-called "Higher Education" is the college student ?s primary source between the experiences of the past and the student?s observation of the present, in addition to how the student perceives the future.
Isn?t the professor the one with the experience, the resources and the desire to educate? Am I mistaken, or isn?t the professor, not a textbook, responsible for educating the student, even if this means educating outside the classroom? Most collegeeducation happens outside the classroom, anyway: not from a boring lecture or limited classroom discussion. This leads me to the question: Where are all the professors? The minority students on campus need the professor who is going to be that link between the present and the past. Many speak of this generation as being ignorant, but who is teaching us? Who is sitting down and speaking with us? This generation is blamed for much, but given little.
For the past four and a half years, I?ve never seen a professor of color organize a campus-wide event that dealt with the issues facing minorities.
In fact, I rarely see black professors even participate in campus events. These are the same professors who speak and encourage unity, but fail to initiate activism. Since my first year at WCU, I can count on two hands the number of programs that were initiated by black professors. So I must admit, there have been a few, but they are rare. In addition, these are the same professors who teach the African-American History, Black Literature, and Martin Luther King classes, and whatever other "black" class you want to throw in there that probably meets some requirement mandated by the University.
However, few understand that these are simply effects of previous causes. The present is always a result of the past.
Naturally, as a college student, it would seem as though the ?professor? is responsible for making sure that the student is well aware of the knowledge of the past and how it relates to the situations of today. The professor of so-called "Higher Education" is the college student ?s primary source between the experiences of the past and the student?s observation of the present, in addition to how the student perceives the future.
Isn?t the professor the one with the experience, the resources and the desire to educate? Am I mistaken, or isn?t the professor, not a textbook, responsible for educating the student, even if this means educating outside the classroom? Most collegeeducation happens outside the classroom, anyway: not from a boring lecture or limited classroom discussion. This leads me to the question: Where are all the professors? The minority students on campus need the professor who is going to be that link between the present and the past. Many speak of this generation as being ignorant, but who is teaching us? Who is sitting down and speaking with us? This generation is blamed for much, but given little.
For the past four and a half years, I?ve never seen a professor of color organize a campus-wide event that dealt with the issues facing minorities.
In fact, I rarely see black professors even participate in campus events. These are the same professors who speak and encourage unity, but fail to initiate activism. Since my first year at WCU, I can count on two hands the number of programs that were initiated by black professors. So I must admit, there have been a few, but they are rare. In addition, these are the same professors who teach the African-American History, Black Literature, and Martin Luther King classes, and whatever other "black" class you want to throw in there that probably meets some requirement mandated by the University.
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