University of Oregon law professor Nancy Shurtz may lose her job. Shurtz appeared at an off campus Halloween party attended by both students and faculty in blackface. KEZI in Oregon first identified a party attendee as the 68 year old professor. Now she is facing pressure from her peers and possibly the University.
Naturally, university students and faculty are outraged. In an attempt to explain her actions, Shurtz released a statement that read:
I chose my costume based on a book that I read and liked—Black Man in a White Coat. I thought I would be able to teach with this costume as well (or at least tell an interesting story). When I asked my daughter who is at Brown Medical School the demographics of her medical school class, she said “they do not give those statistics out mom”, but later when she asked the administration, they said there was _not one black male _student in the class. She and others were outraged. She was able to get the administration to assign a portion of this book (the one where the black medical student was thought to be the janitor) out to students.
I am sorry if it did not come off well. I, of all people, would not want to offend.
I’m confused…You thought you could teach? You’re sorry it didn’t come off well? The thing that boggles my mind is the complete lack of disregard for an entire race of people. As if whatever “message” she was trying to convey trumps or supersedes basic human decency and dignity.
Since the incident, her peers at the university have signed a petition seeking her immediate resignation and President Michael Schill released a statement that read in part:
The University of Oregon has been made aware that a faculty member of the School of Law wore a costume that included blackface at a private, off-campus Halloween party that was attended by UO faculty members and students.
We condemn this action unequivocally as anathema to the University of Oregon’s cherished values of racial diversity and inclusion. The use of blackface, even in jest at a Halloween party, is patently offensive and reinforces historically racist stereotypes. It was a stupid act and is in no way defensible.
