Can Athletes Save UNC (Again)? A Reflection on the Hannah-Jones Debacle
It is not unanimous but certainly a consensus that the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) student body and faculty fully support Nikole Hannah-Jones’ recent decision to reject the tenured faculty offer of the Knight Chair in Race and Investigative Journalism position at UNC’s Hussman School of Journalism and Media. This entire sordid hiring process has become the latest embarrassment for the southern “Public Ivy” that boldly proclaims to be the “university of the people.” Sadly, this mistreatment of a distinguished alumna is another painful reminder of how a lack of transparency, political machinations, and white supremacy, can make for an awful mix of faculty governance and a positive campus climate. This awkwardness is also a prompt for athletics to possibly come to the rescue of a university community exhausted by academic leadership missteps.
UNC is globally recognized for academic and athletics excellence. Although the university is regularly ranked as one of the best public research institutions in the nation with 51 Rhodes Scholars, having garnered more than $1.048 billion in new research awards in fiscal year 2020, and claim to alumnus, James K. Polk, as the 11th President of the U.S.A., most people recognize the UNC brand for its national championships in sports and numerous athletic greats such as Mia Hamm, Michael Jordan, and Lawrence Taylor. Fortunately (and despite the academic “paper classes” failing), there isn’t a great dichotomy between success in the classroom and success on the playing field for the majority of Tar Heel athletes. UNC athletes continue to earn academic awards as they make outstanding contributions in the research lab and effectively engage in pursuits ranging from creative writing, entrepreneurial projects, business and historical analysis, public speaking, and science discovery. And hopefully many people will never forget basketball standout, Vince Carter, who received a lot of criticism for his decision to attend his graduation ceremony on the morning of what was then the most important game in NBA Toronto Raptors history. Sports matter greatly to UNC. Serving as the “front porch” to an impressive house filled with brilliant minds and caring employees and students, scholar-athletes have been a beacon of joy for those seeking to adjust during and after tough times.
Hannah-Jones, the creator of the 1619 Project, stated in an interview with “CBS This Morning” that “it’s not my job to heal the University of North Carolina. That’s the job of the people in power who created this situation in the first place.” She’s correct. The important and necessary work of healing lies in the hands of everyone working and learning at UNC. However, all fingers point to the senior administrators to reestablish trust, repair the harm, and communicate a vision that demonstrates respect for all members of the community. The number of Black faculty who have left the university over the past decade due to a lack of support and alleged discrimination is troubling. (Yes, I do keep a list.) What makes Hannah-Jones’ decision so much more powerful than others who have walked away from UNC is that she publicly declared her exact reasoning for not accepting the position. Far too often frustrated and abused employees leave their place of employment but never share the realities of how much harm has been inflicted. The “why” is voiceless and left to the rumor mill of juicy gossip about how possibly bad the situation was for the person. Similar to what is faced by domestic violence victims, the system is built to efficiently keep the abused silent, disconnected from supporters, and marginalized while processing options and next steps.
Hannah-Jones openly and brazenly spat in the face of that tradition. Showing us her fantastic writing and investigative skills, she brilliantly laid out the storyline and the antagonists. Hannah-Jones instructs as she walks away from the “southern part of heaven.” And now due to the extreme level of damage inflicted by this hiring fiasco and the various parties wounded and abused, the amount of healing and reparations necessary this time will require additional support beyond South Building guidance. Perhaps, this vital leadership work should begin with athletics, and in particular, Head Football Coach Mack Brown.
Notwithstanding UNC athletics own troubling history with race relations, and the more recent awkward press conference by Head Men’s Basketball Coach Hubert Davis and the announcement of all White male-owned partners for Name, Image, and Likeness business with the athletic department, the sports teams often help to unify and rally the sports-loving community. It’s fun to gear up for the Atlantic Coast Conference rivalries and the ABC (“Anybody But Carolina”) fans. UNC supporters get hyped up, host parties, cook creative sport-themed meals, concoct special cocktails for games, and rush to Franklin Street for the comradery and post-game revelry. Can the football season get here fast enough? Coach Brown knows talent and what it takes to win major games. His confidence for the upcoming season gives us something to look forward to this fall in terms of wins on the field.
In regards to the more important matters of healing race relations and faculty governance processes, Coach Brown may well be the only person on campus that has demonstrated how to lead and manage with courage in challenging racial times. Having recently spent time with him, I know of and have felt his commitment to racial equity. With human imperfection exposed, his unifying spirit is real and purposeful. Coach Brown brought thoughtful correction, advice, and direction of his coaches and players over the past two years when racial tensions were high on campus and beyond. His management style brought the team closer and further instilled critical leadership skills for life after sports. Is there any surprise that a high number of elite African American athletes are now choosing UNC to pursue their life long college football dreams? Success leaves clues. He knows who needs to be “on the bus and where they need to sit.” This healing effort is much more than adding Black faces. This mending requires the Black voice — people who are actually engaged with and respected by the community. Not that Coach Brown (or his players) need another weighty assignment, but Coach does have key staff and access to expert resources that provide holistic race and racism education and guidance to accelerate the necessary boldness and creativity to help main campus “right the ship.”
This query is not unfamiliar to most UNC alumni. In 1992 it took Black football players playing in Coach Brown’s program, to make a demand with the usage of their voice and platform to finalize the building of the university’s Sonja Haynes Stone Center for Black Culture and History. Tim Smith, a defensive back, proclaimed, “We feel it’s our responsibility to speak out and lead. That’s what’s surprising a lot of people. As athletes here, we have a lot of untapped power because we bring so much money into this university.” Times really haven’t changed much. The sport enterprise can still make a difference. Athletes and coaches are needed now just like in the past to come off of the sideline and get in the real game at UNC. I’m hopeful that the current athletes and those being recruited are aware of and learning the many lessons of this shameful episode. Athletes should engage with the larger student community to provide a much-needed assist.
It is extremely likely that UNC’s life after Hannah-Jones will experience more unnecessary blunders. Until there is a public reckoning with our glorious and flawed history, a courageous challenge by leadership to those who uphold white supremacist beliefs, and a structural analysis of the root cause of system-wide inequities, there will be more of the same. Having students lead in this effort is commendable but it surely speaks to the leadership vacuum in race relations that currently exists. The price of the next slipup may not be as high as the one suffered in the Hannah-Jones case but surely another disaster will provide another reason for people to question the culture and strategy of UNC to be a 21st century university. Surely, we understand there is much more to having a healthy, welcoming campus than just having research dollars and sport trophies.
Or perhaps, this moment will be a litmus test on the importance of having Black traditional students and Black elite athletes enrolled and engaged at UNC. Clearly, there are many questions on the future of UNC. How will UNC recruit Black students, considering the news surrounding Hannah-Jones’ recruitment and outcome? What is the plan? Can UNC afford to act as if “business as usual” will still work? There is no doubt that African American parents, guardians, donors, and alumni have paid attention to this hurtful affair. Many faculty members of the School of Journalism, Carolina Black Caucus, the Black Student Movement, and the UNC NAACP unit have all expressed their ongoing concerns and demands moving forward. Despite this major stain on the university’s brand, most contracted Black faculty and staff will remain at UNC — the institution that, as Hannah-Jones stated, is not built for us. Are we too exhausted to ask others to come join us in the effort to change the culture at UNC?
Will the dots be connected to see the value of collaborating with athletics to change the mood and mindset of UNC? Or will coaches and athletes just turn a blind eye to what is happening to their university and hope that the blemish stays away from the winning athletic enterprise?
Can UNC be saved? Or possibly, after much reflection the more appropriate question is whether or not UNC really wants to be saved.
“Never Too Far” contains perspectives and insights from an inquisitive and engaged Orange County transplant from Philly. Deborah Stroman is an entrepreneur and UNC leadership professor who has seen too much and not enough, and thus continues to question and explore the thoughts and actions of humankind.
Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.
"save" - Google News
July 14, 2021 at 02:18AM
https://ift.tt/3ej1MsW
Never Too Far: Can Athletes Save UNC (Again) - Chapelboro.com
"save" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2SvBSrf
https://ift.tt/2zJxCxA
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Never Too Far: Can Athletes Save UNC (Again) - Chapelboro.com"
Post a Comment