Presidential choice is not progress
This is a letter to the editor from Monica Medina-McCurdy CSB Class of 1992.
I am a CSB alum writing in response to the announcement of a new President and to your recent op-ed on the announcement.
I am a first generation Asian American woman (she/her) who attended CSB/SJU from 1988-1992. I was one of a small group of students of color who attended at a time when we lacked vocabulary and insight around the importance of DEI of racial/ethnic minorities on campus.
So much has changed since then just in terms of vocabulary. Young people of color are also holding institutions and their white colleagues accountable to walk the talk.
I learned last fall that CSB/SJU sponsored Indian Industrial Schools and willingly took part in a national project of cultural genocide to separate and assimilate Native children based on white supremacist and paternalistic views of Native people.
I was deeply, deeply hurt that it happened in a place which I associated with academic freedom, social justice and pursuit of knowledge for the common good. The hurt I feel alternates with profound anger and frustration that this news only came to light recently.
Which brings me to the schools’ selection for president. He is a white middle aged male who is highly accomplished and credentialed to boost enrollment and endowments.
Regrettably, he is unqualified to understand, let alone lead, two institutions that have proven capable of impressive theological, philosophical, sociological and psychological gymnastics in order for “good folks” to rationalize and willingly participate in cultural genocide and hide this failure from public view until just recently. No statement of commitment to DEIJ or listening session or public apology can heal these institutions.
The dis-ease is still within. How can it not be? CSB/SJU must turn the mirror on itself and look at itself in 2022, under the harsh light of history, and see what I and so many BIPOC people see: a performative, uncritical, self congratulatory proclamation of white guilt and white redemption that culminated in a so-called inclusive selection process. Which, by the way, has now conveniently maintained a white male power structure.
Honestly, it’s staggeringly sad. In 2022, thirty years after I graduated, fifty or so years after the Industrial Schools closed, this is progress?