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
- 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
Danny Shelton • Feb 3, 2017 at 4:14 pm
I wholeheartedly support Dr. Samhat!
Danny Shelton
1987