University President James W. Wagner discussed a range of topics, from his recent Emory Magazine column to sexual assault prevention and race, during an open forum hosted by the Wheel yesterday evening.
The event began with an introduction by the Wheel's Editor-in-Chief and College junior Arianna Skibell, who focused the forum on the question, "How will we and President Wagner move us forward as a University?"
During the conversation with Wagner, students tweeted their questions to the Wheel's Twitter account and sent their questions to Wheel's Facebook.
Along with Skibell, the Wheel's Managing Editor and College junior Lane Billings and Features Editor and College sophomore Nicholas Bradley moderated the evening's conversation.
Wagner began the discussion by explaining the controversy surrounding his Emory Magazine column that included the Three-Fifths Compromise.
He said he has learned that the compromise is widely understood as the epitome of slavery and therefore, he said, is an entity itself that is hurtful to a large number of people.
Sexual Prevention and Awareness
Skibell began the forum session with a focus on sexual assault prevention and awareness. The Wheel reported on Nov. 5 that at that time seven cases of rape had been reported since August.
"Are there concrete plans to do something about the elevated number of reports?" Skibell asked Wagner.
Wagner said the question people need to ask is how to deal with these cases – either as a conduct case on par with underage drinking or as another type of case.
"Our folks do study the processes that do and don't work on campus," Wagner said.
Wagner said the Conduct Council is a part of the process of dealing with sexual assault. Still, one audience member tweeted to the Wheel that even as a member of the Conduct Council she has never been confronted with a sexual assault conduct case.
Skibell also asked, "How do we establish a culture where using alcohol as an excuse isn't acceptable?"
"I don't believe that alcohol.edu or a couple days of conversation during Orientation...is anything more than the beginning," Wagner said. He said there might not be a straightforward answer.
Race and Social Justice
Wagner discussed micro-aggressions – which are mostly non-physical daily interactions that remind people that they are different – to macro-aggressions – larger systematic issues like incidents in fraternities on Eagle Row.
"I don't think you address micro-aggressions by writing a list ... There is something about respect, hospitality and charity," Wagner said.
By valuing those three factors, Wagner said, the Emory community could overcome these micro-aggressions.
Black Star Magazine tweeted to the Wheel: "What steps are the Emory [administration] taking to ensure that minority population interests are represented throughout all divisions of the University? At times, it seems as if different practices and policies of one division are at odds with another."
Wagner responded that the University needs to look at its hiring practices to gain an engaged community that "really means it."
He also mentioned that the Campus Life committee on inclusivity has set up mechanisms to hold people accountable.
A Facebook question from Laura Emiko Soltis ('12G) asked how the majority-white and male Board of Trustees as well as the President's cabinet is "working to ensure equity and social justice for the lowest paid workers on campus" who are mostly African American and Hispanic.
Wagner mentioned recommendations that were detailed in a recent Committee on Class and Labor study.
A follow-up question asked if the University as a whole is going to have any actions to address the cycle of poverty amongst contracted workers on campus.
"I don't know what the resource requirements are," Wagner said. "Am I ready to say we would harmonize all of the benefits? No, I am not ready to say that."
He added that he simply does not have an answer to that question at this point. While the process seems frustratingly slow, Wagner said, that is the way it needs to be done to properly address the issue.
Advocacy For Liberal Arts
Skibell asked Wagner about his vision of a liberal arts education.
Wagner said the liberal arts should focus on three main components. In addition to making students critical thinkers, a liberal arts education should build individual character and give people the "capacity for enjoyment," he said. He added that the liberal arts and humanities are under attack in society.
Skibell asked about what new initiatives will be implemented since the department changes announced last fall. Wagner responded that Dean of the College Robin Forman has a list of areas of development and that this question would be better for him to answer.
Skibell said it did not seem like those areas were fleshed out yet.
In addition, an audience member asked, "Don't you think students should play a role in the direction of the University?"
"It will make you angry for me to tell you that I think the answer to that is mixed," Wagner replied. "I think there are certain things the University should offer ... and invite students to come and enjoy and gain from what we have. We can't, under the circumstances of our time, provide all programs to all people. We just can't."
College sophomore Brigid Choi asked through Facebook whether the department changes make Emory more focused on the parents' goal rather than those of the students.
"It's not – it can't be about simply listening to what parents are willing to pay for," Wagner said.
Wagner also addressed the recent Laney vote, in which 68 percent of voters voted no confidence in Wagner.
Twenty-two percent of the Laney student body participated in the vote. He noted "there is still some listening and discussions that need to be done."
Reactions
Choi said she came to the forum because she is really worried about the arts at Emory.
She had asked the question about Emory adhering to the goals of parents rather than students. She said Wagner did not acknowledge "that the whole structure [of Emory] is geared toward the people giving money."
"I felt like a lot of the things he said were really hypocritical," Choi said.
She said Wagner mentioned that the liberal arts are under attack nationally when he himself does not support them.
"I don't really know how I feel right now, but I know I don't really trust him, and I know he doesn't really care about me," she said.
Soltis said Wagner deferred the students to information that was already released.
"I was disappointed but not particularly surprised that he failed to answer the large majority of student's questions," she said.
Soltis, who asked the question about the contracted workers on campus, said Wagner has been asked that question in the past and has not improved his answer.
"I continue to be disappointed in President Wagner's disrespect toward students that he won't answer our questions," Soltis said. "I'm hopeful in the student body that we are asking the right questions."
– By Karishma Mehrotra
Photo by James Crissman
