Alumni at Grove City College Mobilize in Support of Racial Justice
GCC alumni composed two petitions of their own to support free academic inquiry and oppose the Board of Trustees' anti-CRT report
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I’ve been receiving dozens of messages from Grove City College students and alumni expressing their disappointment at the anti-CRT report put forth by the Board of Trustees and pledging their support of me and racial justice.
In just a few days they came through with a tangible support of solidarity.
[This post has been updated to include another petition from Grove City College alumni asking for the report to be rescinded.]
A new petition “GCC Alumni in Support of Dr. Jemar Tisby” calls for an official apology to me and advocates for free academic inquiry at the school. An additional petition called “Preserve the Educational Mission of GCC” demands that the Board of Trustees reject the anti-CRT report.
As a liberal arts college, Grove City should embrace and consider all theoretical frameworks and not censor or silence viewpoints or perspectives that promote understanding the world around us.
The alumni insist that academic ideas such as Critical Race Theory should not be rejected by reputation. Instead, a quality liberal arts education should include scrutinizing a variety of ideas and developing an opinion for oneself.
The alumni graciously and pointedly express their support of me and my endeavors to speak about racial justice.
We find GCC’s treatment of Dr. Tisby completely out of alignment with the school’s profession of faith. To openly invite a speaker to campus and then, a year after the fact, misrepresent his work in your report without citing specific sources or examples, is appalling.
Although the Board of Trustees specifically name me in their report, the issue is far larger. The anti-CRT crusade is being waged in many other Christian colleges and institutions. Despite all the energy these institutions are giving to denouncing Critical Race Theory, the objections they wage almost uniformly lack evidence or precision.
The entire effort to demonize what conservative Christian institutions call “Critical Race Theory” represents an effort to assert politically conservative bona fides for vocal critics and donors. Any dedication to Christian principles gets overshadowed by the clamor to avoid the appearance of promoting racial justice in any meaningful sense.
Grove City’s response to Dr. Tisby illustrates the College’s positioning of politics over faith. Indeed, conservative politics appear to be prioritized to the detriment of the College’s mission to be followers of Christ who love thy neighbor.
The second petition is even more pointed in its demands and detailed in its rationale.
Thus again we call on the Full Board of Trustees not to inhibit discussions of race and racism on campus and in the classroom. Furthermore, we amend this petition to urge the full board of Trustees to reject the board committee report and leave the issues of diversity in the trusted hands of our college administration, staff, and faculty.
The second petition goes on to cite specific instances where Board members in their full-times advocated for the very reforms and resources they rejected in the anti-CRT report.
Ed Breen is chairman of the Grove City College Board of Trustees and the CEO of DuPont. In his role as CEO, Breen stated…
“DuPont stands together to strongly condemn the racism, injustice & violence in our society which present a daily burden for those in the African American community.”
On the DuPont’s website he wrote…
“For too long, systemic racism has prevented Black-led business owners and entrepreneurs from participating fairly and fully in our economy.”
The employees of DuPont might well wonder if the head of their company is truly committed to racial justice. The members of the board at Grove City might also wonder if Breen is truly against what they mischaracterize as CRT.
The second petition also explains the errors in the report’s explanation of Critical Race Theory and, chillingly, how the anti-CRT has already affected faculty teaching plans
In discussions with faculty since the report was published, we have confirmed that some faculty will be limiting their course content to avoid allegations of teaching CRT. This is what we predicted would happen.
Actions like compiling a sloppy report about what is labeled Critical Race Theory and meant to assuage fears of becoming too liberal serve notice to faculty that their teaching about racism could come under scrutiny and result in professional reprisals.
Unlike the anti-CRT report put forth by the Board of Trustees, the petitions by Grove City College alumni represent the kind of courage and boldness in support of racial justice that should characterize every Christian institution.
Read the first petition HERE. Read the second petition HERE.
As 1974 graduates of GCC, I can assure you that my wife and I are deeply troubled by what has transpired. We have been using your books and videos in our Racial Justice Task Force at First Presbyterian Church, York PA. Signing the petition is the very least we can do and, rest assured, we will find other ways to support you and make our collective voices heard. Grace and peace, brother.