Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - AN OPEN LETTER TO DR. HAN REICHGELT

Well done indeed, Akin.

Although we have been dealing with other matters up here in Canada, which are as much about mental health as terrorism,  we also had put on a  panel about Ebola. Really,  the hysteria is becoming unbounded.

Pablo

On 2014-10-24 12:08 AM, kenneth harrow wrote:

i wish to voice my support for akin's letter as well. we too are having panels on our campus. there has to be a difference between an enlightened response to this crisis and an ignorant one. guess which side s fla is on
ken

On 10/23/14, 9:38 PM, Kissi, Edward wrote:

Akin,

 

You have done  all of us a great service with your  open letter to  Dr. Han  Reichgelt.  I heard about this hysterical decision  taken by the authorities on the USF campus at St. Petersburg only yesterday when some USF-Tampa campus  staff members brought the news to my attention. From my office here on the main Tampa campus, I have been trying to find out the rationale behind that decision taken by our colleagues on the St. Pete campus.  I  have been mobilizing  some faculty members on the USF-Tampa campus for  a campus Roundtable Conversation on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa; the understandable  concerns it has raised and the irrational fears it has generated. I will moderate that  conversation and I will distribute your letter to every panelist and  attendee.  I plan to  speak with some of the people responsible for that decision on our sister campus at St. Pete .  I applaud  your letter and  I support it.  I  have forwarded your letter  to  many faculty members and administrators here on the USF-Tampa campus.

 

Edward  Kissi

University of South Florida-Tampa.

 

From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Akin Ogundiran
Sent: Thursday, October 23, 2014 8:52 PM
To: reichgelt@usfsp.edu
Cc: usaafricadialogue
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - AN OPEN LETTER TO DR. HAN REICHGELT

 

Dr. Han Reichgelt
Regional Vice Chancellor 
Academic Affairs
University of South Florida

 

Dear Dr. Reichgelt,

 

I recently read your letter announcing the cancelation of the visit of 14 journalists from African countries to your university (http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/usf-cancels-african-journalists-visit-ebola-fears-blamed). These Africans were scheduled to visit the United States through an exchange program sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. I have since learnt that only two of the journalists are coming from countries that currently have Ebola outbreaks.

 

According to Inside Higher Education, The State Department had asked your university whether you would accept two other journalists from elsewhere in Africa. To my surprise, your institution still declined. It is unfortunate that an institution like yours will abandon scientific knowledge and expert advisory from the State Department and from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Instead, you have stooped down to ignorance and fear.  A university that claims international focus and diversity spirit must rise above the hysteria and prejudice of its society. In this case, your office and your entire institution failed to seize this opportunity to educate your students and faculty, and your community about epidemiology and the nature of this disease.

 

You might have done what you thought was expedient but you have not done the right thing. By the action of the institution that you represent, you and your university have labelled entire Africa as a diseased continent. Now that you have chosen to take this path, are you going to stop every person living in Texas from coming to the University of South Florida? Are you now going to begin policing all international African students currently enrolled at USF? What about African and non-African faculty and staff? Do you know who they are interacting with? Are you going to prevent people coming from Spain (and entire Europe) from entering your campus?

 

This outbreak is a serious issue, and I understand the need for institutions to be cautious. In your case, you gave in to the primordial fear of Africa that our society - the media and the public - has created. It is unfortunate and indeed sad that by your action you have made every African synonymous with Ebola. It is obvious that your institution is only able to talk about globalization but with your decision you have not demonstrated you know how interconnected we all are as children of this one planet.

 

In this time of crisis, many of us would have looked up to the University of South Florida to lead in terms of educating our community. Alas, you failed to provide leadership in this hour of need. 

 

Sincerely,

 

Akin Ogundiran

Chair and Professor, Africana Studies Department

UNC Charlotte

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--   kenneth w. harrow   faculty excellence advocate  professor of english  michigan state university  department of english  619 red cedar road  room C-614 wells hall  east lansing, mi 48824  ph. 517 803 8839  harrow@msu.edu

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