Feb. 1, 2017 − Since its foundation in 1854, Wofford College has committed itself as an institution to a healthy intellectual environment for the free exchange of ideas.  What follows from this commitment is the defense and protection of students from coercive forces that prevent their free expression.  It is the job of college administrators to ensure this atmosphere stays healthy and vibrant. In this regard, President Samhat this week has fulfilled that obligation and defended those principles.  As current students, alumni, faculty and other members of the Wofford family, we are troubled by the response and actions of a vocal minority of students to these statements.

Make no mistake, there is absolutely no evidence of President Samhat taking any measure to deter students, faculty or anyone else from stating their opinion about President Trump’s executive orders.  In this way, all charges of President Samhat “stifling” free speech or threatening the “academic freedom” [sic] of professors circulating on a certain Change.org petition is a work of fiction, invented out of whole cloth.  If anything, President Samhat welcomed discussion and debate on these issues in his statement.  Though we can disagree on college policies and positions, an atmosphere in which we attribute unsubstantiated ulterior motives toward those with whom we disagree is not conducive to a free exchange of ideas as well as morally reprehensible.  At Wofford College we say we are a family, and a family does not assume the source of its disagreement is that other members are evil or out to get other members.

Wofford College is a school of less than 2,000 faculty, administrators and students. It is not difficult to arrange a meeting with the president or administrative officials.  In this age of social media, it is near impossible for any single institution to censor speech, and such allegations should never be taken lightly. Assertions that such things are happening require evidence that the petition was scarce to provide.  It is easier to rally against something for bad reasons than it is to challenge people to reflect upon what they support for good reasons. Given these factors, we are troubled by the intentions of this somewhat anonymous petition, with unsubstantiated charges directed at the administration.  If this were about free speech or disagreement over policy, those concerned could have just as easily signed their name on an op-ed for the campus newspaper, scheduled a meeting with President Samhat or arranged a protest.  Instead, a semi-anonymous online petition was drafted in which anyone could jump on an angry bandwagon to demonize an individual they didn’t like- President Samhat.  He deserves better given his good intentions and successful efforts to make Wofford an improved academic institution.

For this reason, we support the statement of the college this week.  We oppose and condemn anonymous and vile smear methods that serve to belittle the character and public standing of members of the Wofford Community.  We support Wofford College’s efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive academic environment. We affirm enthusiastic support for Nayef Samhat as the President of Wofford College, and have little doubt this minor incident will be forgotten soon as he continues his long tenure at Wofford College.

Signed,

Joseph R. James III 2016

Patrick J. Craig Jr. 2012

Jon Kevin Wisham Jr. 2014

Bailey Carraway 2016

Jayce O’Shields 2015

Julia Smith 2015

Michael Sheffey 2014

Rober H. Levin 2014

Daniel Didok 2014

Caroline Barnett 2015

Megan Curran 2019

Sam Veremchuck 2017

Michelle Stinson 2013

Carey Voeller Associate Professor of English

Connor Vetter 2014

Mills Brown 2015

Katie Smith 2012

Cala Cocca 2014

Richard Mugabe 2014

Pauline Howell 2015

Amanda Greene 2016

Lamont McPhearson 2014

Taylor Masters 2014

Annie Dillion 2016

Megan Deveaux 2016

Madison Eberhardt 2016

Donovan J. Hicks 2016

1. Paige Frasso 2015

Leanna Herbert 2016

Geophrey Darrow 2017

Anam Virani 2014

Anna Katherine Wilson 2018

William R. Cornwell 2014

Julie Woodson 2018

Courtney Parsons 2015

Rachel Arling Samson 2013

Peyton Proffitt 2016

Zachary Kuthe 2010

Kelsey Aylor 2018

Margaret Borden 2011

Kate Campbell 2011

Colton Smith 2016

Lydia Miller 2018

Kaci Brasher 2013

Hope Griffin 2012

Jim Hackney 1977

David Moore 2013

Kristin Frost 2015

Kathrine Moore 2013

Sarah Madden 2017

Kyrie Hugdahl 2019

Sari Imber 2015

Meagan Burns 2017

Cierra Kaiser 2017

Brittany Walker 2013

Rachel Chalmers 2016

Annie McDermott 2017

Farahnaz Afaq 2018

Shelby Stewart 2018

Maggie Massey 2011

Daniela Samaniego 2020

Tin Tran 2018

Lauren Crawford 2017

Olivia Crotts 2017

Anne Casey Hughes 2017

Jonathan Franklin 2016

Syeda Ahmed 2016

Sheridan Kate Murray 2019

David Trant 2011

Fraser Speaks 2012

Valerie Elizabeth 2013

Kit Candler Trant 2012

Lindsey Perret 2015

Joshua Askins 2016

Eduardo Castillo 2019

Heather Ross 2014

Sophia Siriani 2019

Torey Ballenger 2018

Mary Lewis Griffin 2014

Langley Altman 2013

Rebecca McGregor 2017

Nicholas Lowe 2013

Tyler Woolley 2016

Elizabeth Terrell 2018

Sarah Hager 2011

Donnie Patterson 1997

Lauren Barter 2012

Heather Allen 2016

Alexandra Zeldenrust 2012

Mallory Smith Womble 2011

Tanaé Copeland 2017

Sterling Jarrett 2014

Katie Brown 2010

Jennifer Coggins 2012

Callixte Nahimana 2014

Lauren Holland 2010

Alex Silverman 2014

Katherine Buchanan 2016

Ashley Green 2012

Meghan Lindsey 2011

Michael Vaughn 2009