National Call in Days a SUCCESS!

Thank you to everyone who called the President, Provost, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees over the past two days (and double thanks to those of you who called more than once!).  We feel confident that the call in was a success, with reports coming in from all over the country that allies had called and left a message telling the administration that they support the full reversal of the decision to restructure the ASRC!!

Today some folks reported that their call had gone in straight to voicemail-- word on the street is Skorton and Fuchs are out of town for the month.  We imagine we jammed up the lines so much on the 18th that we were sent to voicemail today.  This is actually a great opportunity, though.  Just because tomorrow is the 20th doesn't mean we have to stop calling, especially if we can leave the administrators actual voicemails!

KEEP THE CALLS COMING!

Also, a big thanks to the Administrative staff in Day Hall who fielded our calls-- we're sorry we had to put you in the middle of this struggle, but we really appreciate how receptive to us you were.  We look forward to hearing from the big guys when they return to campus!

Save Africana Banner Drop!

This afternoon a banner reading "Save Africana: History. Memory. Dialogue. Hope" was dropped from the McGraw Clocktower as part of the efforts to commemorate the 42nd Anniversary of the Willard Straight Hall takeover.  The banner was up for about 20 minutes before it was taken down.  That was long enough to send a message to the Cornell community about the unacceptability of the Provost's decision.  The prospective students and their parents were especially interested in today's actions--  we'll bet the parents were thinking twice about sending their children to the "caring community" at Cornell!

Please stay tuned for more updates about today's rally, march, press coverage, and other events!

THIS JUST IN:

Provost Fuchs stated: "If there is ample evidence that the Center would be stronger by continuing to report to me instead of being part of a college, and that it's best for the University, I'd be happy to change my mind"    


I'd be happy to change his mind!  Wouldn't You?

PLEASE CALL/FAX HIM TODAY

(607) 255-2365 fax: (607) 255-9924 

or email at provost@cornell.edu and 

reference this article!

While your at it...Contact the President too!

(607) 255-5201 fax: (607) 255-9924

email: president@cornell.edu

 

Ithaca College's Center for the Study of Culture, Race, and Ethnicity State their Support for the Save Africana Campaign!

Last week the Cornell Daily Sun printed a solidarity statement written by Dr. Asma Barlas, Director of Ithaca College's  Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity, and her colleagues.  Dr. Barlas and the faculty at CSCRE firmly reject the Provost's decision to restructure the Africana Studies and Research Center.  The following clip is an excerpt from their letter.  Click on the text to read the full solidarity statement! And many thanks to Dr.Barlas and the rest of the CSCRE community for standing alongside SAC in their struggle to Save Africana.


There’s an old saying in freedom struggles: “If they take you in the morning, they will come for us that night.” Heeding that important lesson, the Center for the Study of Culture, Race and Ethnicity at Ithaca College stands in solidarity with the Africana Studies and Research Center  and its supporters in our struggle to keep Africana’s institutional positioning at Cornell.

Howard University Students Speak Out!

Please check out an interview with Howard University Students discussing the campaign to Save the African Studies and Research Center on Washington DC's Pacifica Radio WPFW 89.3.   
Special Thanks to Symone Wilson, Benjamin Woods (ASRC alum), and Iyelli Ichille!

To Listen Click here and Select the "Voices with Vision 2011-04-12 Comp" broadcast (#77).  The discussion begins at the 19:40 mark and ends at about 30:16.

University of Cincinnati Students Spread the Word!

Special thanks to Ekundayo Igeleke, Brittany Carthen and Brandon Harper from the University of Cincinnati for making an information flier to help build awareness about our campaign at the University of Cincinnati and Xavier University.

Click on the image below for a great example of how you can spread the word wherever you may be!

SAC Shares information about the Campaign at the 'Dismantling Ethnic Studies in Arizona" Lecture!

Last week, members of SAC attended an event on campus titled "Dismantling Ethnic Studies in Arizona." Following the lecture, SAC representative Alyssa Clutterbuck was invited speak to participants about the ongoing struggle to preserve the autonomy and integrity of the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell.  Check out her presentation below.  Also, apologies in advance for the poor quality of the video. If you turn up your volume you can at least hear what Alyssa had to say to the group!

SAC Responds to President Skorton's Interview with the Cornell Daily Sun!!

Hi folks,

Sorry for the delay in updating... rest assured that we've been hard at work for the past week!  Here is the first of several updates!

Last week, representatives from the Save Africana Committee submitted an editorial letter responding to Skorton's interview with the Cornell Daily Sun.  


The letter is titled "Misrepresenting the Facts."  Read it HERE in it's entirety!

Additionally, SAC core member and Ithaca Resident Greg Rothman had an editorial about the interview published in the Tompkins Weekly.  You can read his letter by clicking on the image below!

Dr. Robert Harris Responds to Thursday's Announcement in The Chronicle about Africana Budget Increase

On March 31, an announcement was made that the Africana Studies and Research Center would receive a substantial budgetary increase next academic year.  The text of the announcement read accordingly:

The budget for the Africana Studies and Research Center will be raised by more than 50 percent over the next five years, from a current base budget of $2.3 million to $3.5 million. In addition, there will be a one-time infusion of $2 million to recruit new faculty, support research and develop a new Ph.D. program.

In December 2010, the provost requested from the College of Arts and Sciences and the director of the center a five-year plan, which was submitted in early March. This week's decision on Africana Studies was sent out at the same time budgets for 2012 -- which include $31 million in reductions already scheduled in other units -- were issued to all deans and vice presidents from Provost Kent Fuchs and Vice President for Planning and Budget Elmira Mangum.

"I am glad to support this strong budget proposal which I have reviewed with the dean of Arts and Sciences and with the director of Africana. We are committed to Cornell's Africana Center becoming a top five program in the nation, and this support will help make that possible," said Fuchs.

The provost announced in December that he would transfer oversight of the center from his office to Cornell's College of Arts and Sciences, effective July 1, 2011. It will remain both a center and an academic department; the director will also be the department chair with the same authority and influence over the budget as any other department chair in the college.

"Funding for program development and the additional faculty lines will strengthen the center and position it for success," said Fuchs. "There's a very strong commitment on the part of the university to ensuring that the Africana Center becomes a more vibrant part of our academic and scholarly community."

In response to this announcement, Dr. Robert Harris has released a statement rejecting the Administration's claim that is implicated in this decision:

AN OPEN LETTER TO PROVOST W. KENT FUCHS

3 April 2011
W. Kent Fuchs

Provost

300 Day Hall

Cornell University


Dear Provost Fuchs:

Your statement in the Cornell Chronicle Online, March 31, 2011, egregiously misrepresents me and severely impugns my integrity.  The article reports that you “…requested from the College of Arts and Sciences and the director of the center a five-year plan, which was submitted in early March.”  On January 5, 2011, I wrote to Vice Provost Alice Pell that: “I do not have support within the Africana Center to engage in such discussions (with the College of Arts & Sciences) at this juncture.  Unfortunately, I think that we are at an impasse.  The Africana Center faculty will meet at the beginning of the spring semester and only with their permission will I engage in budget discussions.”  I have maintained that position and made it clear that I could not discuss a budget within the context of a move into the College of Arts & Sciences.

It is disingenuous for you to say that you have reviewed a budget proposal with me.  I have discussed our budget for the 2011-2012 academic year with Vice Provost Pell, and as you know, I have been foremost concerned about protecting our faculty lines.  When you indicated to me in late November that you planned to move the Africana Center into the College of Arts & Sciences, I submitted my resignation to you and only continue to serve as director at the request of the Africana Center faculty.  You state that I support your proposed budget and imply the same for the restructuring of the Africana Center, which is blatantly incorrect.  If you have anything in writing directly from me to the contrary, kindly present it.

We have asked several times for you to rescind your decision, to clear the deck and to start anew.  On February 24th, we even suggested a compromise for you given the tense atmosphere to at least suspend your decision to enter a discussion with open minds to seek the best solution to address our mutual needs and interests.  You rejected our overture  to discuss this matter with the type of courtesy, decency, and respect that we deserve no less as Cornell faculty than as human beings.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Harris Jr.