When SU steps in
In unorthodox move, university officially separates itself from professor's controversial comment
By Melissa Daniels
Posted: 10/17/07, 11:22 PM EST Section: News
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Robert Thompson gets interviewed eight to 10 times a day.
Some days it's more than others: If Janet Jackson exposes her breast at the Super Bowl, it could be up to 80, he said.
In his 18 years at Syracuse University, Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture said he never once was told to stop saying anything, and he is not aware of any statement made by the administration intended to separate his views from that of university.
Boyce Watkins' situation is a bit different.
Recently, the university issued a statement separating the views of a professor from the views of the institution after a controversial comment by the finance professor.
Watkins said he is often quoted by the media. And sometimes what he says does prompt a reaction from the university. In this case, it was calling someone a "happy negro."
"I don't think they're used to dealing with having a prominent activist black scholar on campus who draws a lot of response from people," Watkins said.
Watkins became the center of debate after Fox News' Bill O'Reilly, who is white, visited a Harlem restaurant and said he was surprised by the establishment's lack of chaos. Broadcaster Juan Williams, who is black, defended the comments that many categorized as racist.
On Sept. 26, Watkins was a guest on CNN's "Newsroom" to discuss the comments, and at one point, he called Williams a "happy negro" for his defense of O'Reilly. Since then, Watkins has received hundreds of e-mails and phone calls criticizing him, some even saying it was a racial slur against Williams.
Watkins said O'Reilly has discussed the "happy negro" comment at least five times on his show, "The O'Reilly Factor."
A week after "Newsroom," Watkins met with members of the SU administration to discuss what had been said. The reaction from the public prompted SU to go out of its way to remind the public that academic freedom in a university goes beyond the campus.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 8
Edward
posted 10/18/07 @ 5:15 AM EST
As a black American I say the country needs more Juan Williams and less Watkins. As an alumnus I say get rid of Watkins, what is this substance of his scholarship? What has he added as a Finance Professor? He is a rabble rouser of the worse type, dump him before he does more damage. (Continued…)
Ed Johnson
posted 10/18/07 @ 5:54 AM EST
I say kudos to Mr. Watkins for standing up to Bill O'Reilly, who rabble rouses all day denigrating and smearing whomever he chooses. Juan Williams, whom I respect on many levels, deserved to be called out for allowing O'Reilly to make the ridiculous comment about being surprised to not hear Blacks saying "m-fer bring me some ice tea". (Continued…)
Boyce Watkins
posted 10/18/07 @ 6:30 AM EST
To answer your question, I've done alot for Finance. To my knowledge, I have more solo research publications than anyone in the business school and more than 99% of my profession. (Continued…)
Ivy K.
posted 10/18/07 @ 8:53 AM EST
There is another important issue here. Should the university be issuing "separation statements?" This implies that the university--*who??*--has some sort of secret political agenda of its own, in contradistinction to individual faculty viewpoints. (Continued…)
Bruce Skewes
posted 10/18/07 @ 9:58 AM EST
O'Reilly was encouraging whites to abandon racist attitudes toward blacks which he felt were created by news coverage. To spin his remarks as anti-black is dishonest beyond all understanding. (Continued…)
Alberto Dominguez
posted 10/18/07 @ 10:50 AM EST
WOW, my third comment in one week - DO is covering great topics.
I won't incite the masses with outlandish comments, but I will say this - for those of us whom are Black or Latino - we know what Dr. (Continued…)
Lee McKnight
posted 10/18/07 @ 11:51 PM EST
First, of course it is fine for Boyce to say what he wants in the media, and yeah O'Reilly then milked it for ratings, that's what media types do.
Second, many of you (and the DO) are overreacting to the university statement noting that Boyce's views are his; that is standard practice at other top universities where faculty and staff are often in the public eye and expected to add some disclaimer like 'the views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and not necessarily the institutions with which they may be affiliated. (Continued…)
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