http://www.hirhome.com/rajunov.htm
__________________________________________________________
Michelle Rajunov
3700 Spruce Street Box 1716
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Dr. Peter Conn,
Interim Provost
122 College Hall, University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA 19104
December 7, 2004.
Dear Provost Conn,
I am writing to express concern about the undue restrictions that have been imposed on Professor Francisco Gil-White’s course Psychology of Ethnicity (PSYC 270-302), which specifically addresses anti-black racism and anti-Semitism. The new requirements include taking the pre-requisite course Bio-cultural Psychology (PSYC 172) and being a junior or senior Psychology major, so that roughly 30 people in the entire university are even eligible to take it. Professor Francisco Gil-White says the course should have no restrictions, because it is designed so that even entry-level freshman can fully benefit from it. These restrictions are therefore a purely departmental edict.
It is disturbing that, although this course has received sterling reviews from students, the Psychology Department supports its actions with the false claim that Professor Gil-White’s teaching style is inadequate and has been highly criticized. In fact, several students (who now would not even be eligible), say it is the best class they have taken at Penn. Several concerned peers, including leaders of campus-wide organizations, have written to the Psychology Department, whose response has been less than satisfactory.
It is salient that these restrictions were not previously imposed on this course and they coincide suspiciously with the ongoing political tempest between Dr. Gil-White and the Psychology Department.
The restrictions
on Professor Gil-White’s course are not only arbitrary but also contrary
to the principles of this open and esteemed institution. We, the
undersigned, demand that the University of Pennsylvania take action to
allow unrestricted access to Professor Gil-White’s course to all those
who wish to take it. We would like to have your assurance that Penn
supports academic freedom in all aspects of University Life.
Sincerely,
Michelle Rajunov
rajunov@sas.upenn.edu
SAS, University of Pennsylvania ‘08
Katrina Jurn
SAS, University of Pennsylvania ‘06
Elizabeth Curtis
Bey
Chair, Black Student League
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Andrine Wilson
Christian Association
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Michael Patterson
ACLU
University of Pennsylvania
Cameron Smalls
Black Wharton Undergraduate Association HEMM Co-Chair
Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
Darryl Wooten
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Erin Cho
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Sean Walker
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Karl Fils-Aimè
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Lauren Doolly
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Anthony
Inguaggiato
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Kambili J. Moukwa
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Anneka Anamel
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Klair Spillen
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Clara Bracke
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Anthony Giuliano
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Pooja Lakshmi
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Daniel Cope
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Jennifer Choi
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Bren Darrow
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Conor W.
O’Callaghan
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Sunny Patel
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Gabby McLane
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Jason Karsh
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Jason Mischel
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Yelena Gershman
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Seth Shapiro
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Brett Lacher
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Wesley Nakamura
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Bing Xia
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member
Nicole Pritz
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Monica Jain
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Ben Piven
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Nate Frentz
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Wesley Mariere
SEAS, University of Pennsylvania
David Faleck
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
P. Agarwal
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Cassandra J.
Georges
J.D. Candidate, Class 2005
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Katherine Kuhl
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Yinka Neil
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Morgan Mallory
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Grant Walker
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Jared A. Bennett
Feiger
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Gerren Price
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Carolina Gholmia
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Naheem Harris
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Julie Yannalfo
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Fatima Akrouh
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Claire Constantine
SAS, University of Pennsylvania ‘05
Jane L. Rosenberg
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Daphne Lemonis
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Bernard Gutmann
Wharton, University of Pennsylvania
Karli Devin
McIntyre
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Francesca Bradley
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Noah Roswig
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Oren M. Gur
SAS, University of Pennsylvania
Lorri Wilson
Medical, University of Pennsylvania
Sarah Hunter
University of Pennsylvania
Sabah Kahn
University of Pennsylvania
Venus Choi
University of Pennsylvania
Seo Kim
University of Pennsylvania
Amber Enoch
University of Pennsylvania
Mariyahl Hoole
University of Pennsylvania
Tracey Gilbert
University of Pennsylvania
Alexandra Winski
University of Pennsylvania
KeAndra Dodds
University of Pennsylvania
Jasmine Perez
University of Pennsylvania
Jessica Douglas
University of Pennsylvania
Alex Weinstein
University of Pennsylvania
Zach Kuperman
Semyon Karpov
Renee Green
Brown University, ’05
Maria Galindo
Yale University, ‘07
Tania Kupferman
Brandeis University
Evan Sanchez
Columbia College ’06
Benjamin Smith
University of Missouri
Rodolfo
Camacho-Aguilera
Georgia Institute of Technology ‘08
Max Kelerstein
University of Miami
Hoang Jessica Tang
Columbia College ‘08
Alexander Cheung
Columbia College ’08
Michael Harris
Duke University, Law School
Gary Rice
Columbia, SC
Skip Davis
Annapolis
Allen G. Drescher
Attorney at Law
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Shoshana Yaffe