Faculty teach—and even implore—students to think critically and to avoid sweeping claims that are unwarranted, based on premature information, or rooted in personal animus. To that end, I find it naive and even sophomoric for anyone to assert that President Jay Bernhardt is to be blamed for—among other irrational conclusions—1) Emerson’s global reputation decline, 2) low enrollment trends, 3) the arrests of protesters who were violating city laws (interestingly, we saw some faculty fleeing, escaping their own arrests), and 4) an “atmosphere of oppression” (“Letter: It’s time for Jay to go,” Oct. 17).
Seriously!?! The guy has been here less than 18 months!
Before concluding that Bernhardt “should go,” critical thinkers should have acknowledged the verified ethical lapses and wrongdoings pertaining to families literally running from protesters during spring campus tours OR colleagues who continue to politicize their classrooms with anti-Semitic rants OR agitators who possess a profound level of ignorance related to shepherding campus decision-making in 2024.
With apologies to the late, great Civil Rights leader, John Lewis: None of this is “good and necessary trouble.”
These days, campus scapegoating takes enormous negative energy. But, like hundreds of other professors—who (unlike me) can’t/won’t speak out because they are not tenured or full professors—I’m busy working on my course content, sustaining classroom standards, completing another book, and participating in committee work. Still, as a former president of the National Communication Association, I can’t ever envision speaking out on any provocative topic without first being informed with accurate, objective, and relevant information. Finger pointers are encouraged to consult the NCA website for resources on ethical dialogues.
Most importantly, however, to our students: Please know that despite a distinct minority of vocal faculty, unfounded vitriol by any campus “leader” should not be considered normal, particularly if it is aligned with a Trumpian sense of distrust and embedded innuendo. The VAST majority of your professors work hard by eschewing ad hominem attacks and remain committed to engaged, rigorous, and practical classroom experiences.
Rich West is a full-time professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Emerson.