2008 Woodie Awards
Vote Absentee
Clarence Thomas as commencement speaker elicits negative response
JOANN ANDERSON
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: News
|
Thomas, who was born in Pinpoint, Ga., was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1991 by President George H. W. Bush. Prior to serving on the Supreme Court, Thomas was on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
He also has served as chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education.
"Clarence Thomas is only the fifth native Georgian ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and is one of our nation's most distinguished jurists," University President Michael Adams said in a news release issued Friday.
The process for choosing a graduation speaker includes a committee that presents proposals every year for graduation speakers, Jackson said in a phone interview Sunday.
Some University faculty are concerned about the choice for Thomas as a graduation speaker.
"From the reactions I've seen in e-mails shooting around from faculty members, there's a reaction that ranges from surprise to infuriation," Janet Frick, associate professor of psychology, said in a phone interview Sunday. "Many would consider him a divisive figure because of his voting record and the past allegations of sexual harassment with Anita Hill."
"What a slap in the face this is to everyone who has been working to bring to light the realities of sexual harassment at [the University], and to establish appropriate methods and offices for addressing this significant problem on our campus," Chris Cuomo, director and professor of women's studies and professor of philosophy, wrote in an e-mail Sunday.
During Thomas' confirmation hearings to become a Supreme Court justice in Oct. 1991, a leaked FBI report alleged that Thomas had sexually harassed law school professor Anita Hill when the two were colleagues at the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Hill testified during Thomas' Senate confirmation hearing.
Thomas strongly denied the allegations during the hearings.
He took his seat as the 106th associate justice of the Supreme Court later that month, after a 52-48 Senate vote.
The controversy increased the discussion about sexual harassment across the United States.
"How can we hope to build a more positive culture together when our own leaders believe it is appropriate to honor someone who represents the ability of men in power to derogate the claims of women and to abuse of those who speak out about harassment?" Cuomo wrote. "Why should our graduating women students be made to listen to an unapologetic sexual harasser on a day that should be filled with pride, and with the feeling that their futures are full of promise?"
Jackson said he could not comment on the matter, but said, "We should be honored to have an associate Supreme Court justice speak at the University."
Read sexual harassment coverage from The Red & Black here
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 77
discouraged
posted 4/21/08 @ 9:01 AM EST
How sad for everyone at UGA. This choice gives the lie to the university's recent "commitment" to address our distressing history of sexual harassment. (Continued…)
Pamela Voekel
posted 4/21/08 @ 9:12 AM EST
After a year of revelations about decades of adminstrative passivity towards sexual harassment, the decision to invite Justice Clarence Thomas simply adds insult to injury. (Continued…)
Susan Mattern
posted 4/21/08 @ 9:20 AM EST
This choice of speaker is nothing short of perverse. Those of us who remember the Anita Hill hearings are now reliving the outrage we felt then. This makes a mockery of the administration's claim that it is (finally) taking sexual harassment seriously and that women are respected as equals on this campus. (Continued…)
Janet Frick
posted 4/21/08 @ 9:53 AM EST
According to an email I received over the weekend from a member of the administration, undergraduate commencement speakers are selected by the President; graduate commencement speakers are chosen by the graduate dean. (Continued…)
GetaGrip
posted 4/21/08 @ 10:45 AM EST
Im sure that all of you liberals would be equally opposed to Bill Clinton giving the commencement address too, right??? Just be honest...it has nothing to do with the sexual harrasment CLAIMS, you don't want him to come because he is conservative. (Continued…)
Roxanne Eberle
posted 4/21/08 @ 11:24 AM EST
Sexual harassment occurs across the political spectrum to both "liberals" and "conservatives", but partisan politics can (and has) been used to dismiss and divide those who feel that sexual harassment is an issue that needs to be addressed in every workplace, including here at the university. (Continued…)
Parent of a student graduating
posted 4/21/08 @ 11:46 AM EST
How sad that the University chose this speaker in light of the recent incidents. I'm really tempted to tell my daughter to skip the large ceremony and just go to the smaller one. (Continued…)
Bryan
posted 4/21/08 @ 11:46 AM EST
I feel that the choice of Clarence Thomas to serve as commencement speaker should be applauded. His rise above poverty and the prevalent racism throughout the south as a young man to the position he holds today serves as a perfect example as to how hard work and perseverance leads to great opportunities in America. (Continued…)
RP
posted 4/21/08 @ 12:01 PM EST
Let's get some perspective here. Clarence Thomas is obviously a divisive figure, but he can also be an inspiring one. Last year, I was lucky enough to have a lunch with him and walk with him through campus, talking about everyday things. (Continued…)
Anonymous
posted 4/21/08 @ 12:09 PM EST
When did mere allegations become enough for condemnation? And when did allegations of sexual harassment become enough to override the University's other commitments to education? UGA would be irresponsible if it let 20 year old allegations, without more evidence or incidents, get in the way of hosting a commencement speaker who will, whether or not one agrees with his stances on issues, provide a meaningful experience to our graduating class as a member of the highest court in the United States. (Continued…)
Post a Comment