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Students send a letter to the University of Pennsylvania provost, complaining about the banning of Gil-White's course Psychology of Ethnicity

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__________________________________________________________

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
UA [Undergraduate Assembly] Member

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
Ashland, OR

Shoshana Yaffe


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