Collegiate Times

The recent decision by the department of political science to terminate Professor Christopher Clement has caused a great deal of controversy and again raised issues that will seemingly continue to crop up again and again. The Clement situation does provide the university community with an excellent opportunity to discuss a number of pertinent issues including, but not limited to race and intellectual diversity.

That being said, this episode, like several other past incidents, highlights the distressing reality that there are some at this university far more committed to advancing a political agenda, stirring up racial angst and accusing Virginia Tech of ?not care(ing) about black people? than having a forthright and honest discussion on issues of consequence.

Taking a look at Clement?s dismissal, it immediately becomes clear that Clement, as well as many of his most vocal proponents are far better at making allegations than providing even a shred of proof, evidence or substantiation to support such claims. If Clement wants anyone to take his charges seriously ? and since tenure track positions have clear requirements for successful completion ? then perhaps it?s time for the professor to discuss publicly the explanation he was given by department officials for his tenure denial.

While he should be praised for mentoring many students, popularity and activism alone don?t ensure successful achievement of tenure. Regardless of a candidate?s race, if that candidate fails to meet the requirements for obtaining tenure, then the candidate should be let go.

Accusing U.S. officials of sanctioning torture and staging demonstrations supporting illegal immigration may play well in the land of lurid leftist activism, but it hardly replaces the serious scholarship required to gain tenure.

Some would have us believe that Clement was denied tenure because of his political views and activism. Of course no evidence has been presented supporting this claim, but if it is the case, it is a commentary on the radical liberalism of Clement.

I don?t know about my fellow political science majors, but I can say from experience that while the faculty is excellent, most, if not all could hardly be categorized as conservative. If they were unsympathetic to Clement?s views, it is because his views are outside the realm of even the most liberal of rational liberal thought.

My question to those who claim to be so concerned about intellectual diversity is this: where is your concern about the lack of conservative professors on this campus? Conservative professors are few and far between on this campus. In last year?s gubernatorial race, only 5 percent of all faculty donations went to Jerry Kilgore.

Those feigning concern over diversity of intellectual thought are just angry because they lost one of the most radical voices on this campus. Just imagine if a black conservative professor whose activism included opposition to affirmative action was denied tenure? What would you hear? Silence! Come to think about it, applause is more likely.

Is it possible that Clement was denied tenure for good reason, and his response is simply that of a disgruntled professor offering a parting shot? Having read his letter informing his friends and colleagues of his dismissal, or more accurately the conspiracy against him, it seems that way.

After accusing political science faculty of denigrating his scholarship, education and mentors, Clement goes on to charge them with harassing him over his activism and tending to family needs. He refers to the department of political science?s ?notorious reputation of using unscrupulous practices to get their way? and the ?dishonorable practices behind my firing.? Again, the only thing missing here is any evidence or specific examples to support his conspiratorial claims.

As far as the implicit charge that he was denied tenure because of his race, a past incident on this campus deserves another look. In April 2001, Professor Paulo Polanah was arrested after a dispute with another faculty member over a classroom. Polanah was in the wrong, yet he refused to leave the classroom and when police arrived, he more or less challenged them to arrest him, which they promptly did. In retrospect, it seems clear the Polanah sensed an opportunity to turn a simple dispute into a racial incident. Clement rushed to Polanah?s defense alleging racism. No matter your race, if you challenge the police to arrest you, you?ll get your wish. Race had nothing to do with this incident just like it had nothing to do with Clement being denied tenure. This event merits serious consideration when judging the validity of Clement?s present allegations. It is clear, however, that if Virginia Tech had a department teaching students to agitate on the basis of race, both Clement and Polanah would be tenured and they?d have quite a few students.

Clement is likely to be replaced by two very qualified white women. Although some may make an issue of their whiteness, they bring more gender diversity to the department. Even while keeping diversity in mind, shouldn?t we judge foremost by character ? or in this case, qualifications ? and not skin color?

Virginia Tech can clearly do better with regards to recruitment and retention of minority faculty and students. Tech faces challenges in achieving this, but diversity ? racial, cultural, religious and intellectual ? is essential on any college campus, and all Virginia Tech students and faculty should unite in conveying that reaffirmed sentiment to university officials, and despite the criticism, deserve credit for the efforts they?ve already undertaken on this front.

There are outstanding minority professors at Tech; putting aside race, they are also outstanding people. Those willing to exploit long standing racial division in society to drive their political agenda and defame an entire department should be ashamed of themselves.

A diverse body of qualified faculty and students who treat each other with the values codified in the Principles of Community ? the inherent dignity and respect every person deserves ? is what we should all unite to strive for, and what Virginia Tech should and does stand for.