The Michigan Daily-Friday, May 5,1989-Page 10
Ford protests English dept.
BY WENDY WORTHEN
On April 25th several students
joined Rackham Graduate student
Charita Ford in a rally to protest her
recent dismissal from the Depart-
ment of English Language and
Literature's Ph.D. program. Students
who lent their support to Ford's call
to fight institutionalized racism in
the English Department also gave
accounts of their own experiences as
students of color.
"My protest deals with the in-
equitability of the system. I cannot
go through the formal process of
appeals under those circumstances,"
said Ford.
The Graduate Committee's deci-
sion to dismiss Ford was based in
part on her failure to pass two of the
required four Ph.D. qualifying ex-
ams. The committee then reviewed
her academic record, and Prof. Lin-
coln Faller, the Graduate Chair of
the English Department, spoke with
several of Ford's instructors.
Ford continued her protest later in
the week by sitting on the sidewalk
outside of University President
James Duderstadt's home for 36 passed "a New Traditions require-
hours last Friday. ment, which makes it mandatory for
Ford wanted Duderstadt to support undergraduate English majors to take
the statement he made in the March at least one course in the literature of
31 University-wide letter, "Each minorities and/or women."
person who becomes a part of this Faller said the English Depart-
University belongs here in the truest went has "exactly followed the pro-
sns ey cedures specified in the English De-
Shirley Clarkson, assistant to prmn rdaeHnbo. h
ethe president, said Wednesday that partment Graduate Handbook." The
"The PresidentdesnWteinsvedHandbook states that the chair must
"The President does not get involved confer with her past instructors on
in departmental decisions." her academic performance and
Ford said the decision to dismiss promise. Then, "with all these
her may have been influenced in part materials in hand," the committee
by her political activism, as well as reviews the case.
by her academic focus on the writ-
ings of neglected Afro-American Weisbuch said he would not
writers. comment on the situation due to the
She said her work has "challenged confidentiality fo student records. He
the exclusionary tactics used by the would, however, comment on the
mainstream literary tradition." more general developments in the
"The subjectivity of the standard English Department.
canon of English literature really "Probably the main issue in the
does not allow for the kind of under- English Department over the last
standing or broadness of perspective two years has been to make the de-
necessary at a University," asserted partment a happy, productive, wel-
cominm ace for minority students
F'Im
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Ford. g pbF L'I'".
Prof. Robert Weisbuch, chair of and faculty."
the Department of English, however, Ford is planning to take legal ac-
said that the English Department has tion against the University.
Charita Ford protests her dismissal from the University's English
doctoral program in front of President James Duderstadt's house.
The Calendar
of The University o Michigan
The calendar combines meeting, lecture, workshop, and conferenceannouncements
withother events happening eachweekon campus. It is based on The University Record
calendar, and is open to all University sponsored groups and organizations recognized
by the Michigan Student Assembly. Items must be submitted in writing by Spm. the
Tuesday before publication. Address all information to: Marcia Bennett, publications
assistant, University Record, 412 Maynard St. Asterisk (*) denotes events to which
admission is charged.
FRIDAY
May 5
*ICLE--2-day Advocacy Institute begs, "Trying The Business
Tort," 9 am, Hill Aud. Reg req. 764-0533.
*Cont Med Educ/Med Sch/Pediatric & Communicable
Diseases--2-day course begs, G Serwer, "Pediatric Advanced
Life Support," 7:30 am, Towsley Ctr. Reg req. 763-1400.
*U-M Dearborn--Dinner/Dance restoration Fair Lane: Recep, 7
pm; Dinner, 8 pm, Ritz-Carlton Hotel. Res req. 593-5590.
SATURDAY
May 6
Hosp Volunteers--Teen Volunteer Info Session, 10:30 am, Mott
Hosp Rm F1608. 936-4327.
Lowbrow Astron--Star Party, begs at sunset, Peach Mtn Observ,
434-5668.
*Ofc Major Events--Concert, S Bernhard, 8 pm, Power Ctr.
763-TKTS.
*Botan Gdns--Conservatory Tour, 1 & 2 pm, 1800 N Dixboro.
Res req, 763-7061.
SUNDAY
May 7
Botan Gdns--Trail Walk, "Call of the Wildflowers," 2 pm, 1800
N Dixboro, Gdns Lobby. 763-7061.
MONDAY
May 8
Canterbury House---Lesbian-gay men's community open house,
8:45 pm, 218 N Division. 665-0606. -'- -
,Hosp Volunteers--Volunteer Info Session, 4 pm, Hosp Rm
2C108, 936-4327.
*ICLE--Video course, "How To Prepare A Divorce Case: A Total
Checklist Approach," 1-5 pm, 1020 Greene St. Reg req. 764-
0533.
Pharmacol--Lec; S Spector, "Endogenous Opiate Alkaloids," 3-5
pm, 7412 Med Sci I.
Disabled Sdt Svcs--5-wk Amer Sign Lang Course begs, Basic
ASL, 6:30-8 pm, Mich Union Welker Rm. 763-3000.
TUESDAY
May 9
TARDAA--Mtg, 8 pm, 296 Dennison. 763-0806.
Lesbian & Gay Men's Rights Organizing Committee
(LaGROC)--Mtg, 8 pm, Mich Union Rm 3100. 763-4186.
*Extension Svc/HRD--Conf, C J Craft, "Office of the 90's," 8
am, Mich League. Reg req. 764-5304.
*MedSport--Smokeless System Maintenance Session, 7-8 pm,
MedSport, Reg req. 763-7400.
Pharmacol--Lec, B Cox, "Evaluating Functions of Specific
Endogenous Opioids," 3-5 pm, 7412 Med Sci I.
*Dept Rec Sports--Bike Repair Clinic, 7-8:30 pm, NCRB Conf
Rm, 764-3967.
Solidarity--Discuss, P Landon, "Why Socialists Should Be
Activists," 7:30 pm, Guild house. 665-2709.
Disabled Sdt Svcs--Persons w/ hidden Disabilities Sdt/Staff Grp
begs, 7-8 pm, Mich Union Rm 4306. 763-3000.
WEDNESDAY
May 10
Univ Lutheran Chapel--Supper, Devotions & Activities, 6 pm,
1511 Washtenaw. 663-5560.
*CEW--Wkshp, "Career Decision Making: The Step Before the
Job Search," 7-9:30 pm, 350 S Thayer. Reg req. 763-7080.
Pharmacol--Lec, A Guidotti, "Endogenous Ligands for GABA-
Benzodiazepine Receptor Subtypes," 3-5 pm, 7412 Med Sci L
*Women's Athlet--Softball, Bowling Green, 3 pm, Softball
Field, 763-2159.
Dept Rec Sports--Pre-trip mtg horsebackriding, 7 pm, NCRB
Conf Rm, 764-3967.
Chem--Sem, M Makosza, "Vicarious Nucleophilic Substitution," 4
pm, Chm Rm 1300.
*M-CARE--Lec, C Stone, "The Role of Estrogen," 7 pm, Fam
Pract Ctr, Chelsea. Reg req. 475-1321.
Disabled Sdt Svcs--5-wk Amer Sign Lang Course begs,
Advanced ASL, 6:30-8 pot Religious Sign Lang Instruct, 8-
9:30 pot, Micb Union Welker Rot, 763-3000.
Women Of Color Task Force--Brown-Bag Sem, R Lopez,
"How To Survive Between Pay Periods," noon-1 pm, Mich
League Rms 4 & 5.. 747-1386.
Commission for Women--Mtg, "How to Package Yourself to
Get the Job You Really Want," noon-1:15 pm, 2553 LSA.
THURSDAY
May 11
*Mich League--Amer Heritage Nght, Mich, 4:30-7:30 pm, League
Buffet.
Sailing Club--Mtg, B Karolyi, 7:30 pm, 170 Dennison. 995-
1042 or 426-4299.
*Cont Med Educ--2-day course begs, "The Restenosis Summit,"
7:45 am, Towsley Ctr. 763-1400.
Gifts of Art--Concert, Ozer & Moore Duo, 12:30 pm, Hosp
Lobby 1stfi. 936-ARTS.
*ICLE--Course, "Dealing with the SOB Litigator," noon-5 pm,
1020 Greene St. Reg req. 764-0533.
*MedSport--See May 9.
Pharmacol--Lec, R Kelly, "The Evolutionary Imperative for the
Persistence of the Cardiac-Glycoside Binding Site on Na K
ATPase: Is There An Endogenous Digitalis," 3-5 pm, 7412
Med Sci I.
Phys Med & Rehab--Lec, G Davidoff, "Depression in Spinal
Cord Injury," 5 pm, Hosp Rm 1H203.
*Turner Clinic--Prog, W Mignolo, "Testimonial Literature In
Latin America," 10-11:30 am, Kellogg Eye Ctr Aud. Reg req.
764-2556.
Vision Lunch--Sem, P MacLeish, "Electrophysiological
Properties of Salamander & Monkey Retinal Neurons," noon,
Kellogg Eye Ctr Faculty Dining Area.
*Zen Buddhist Temple--Intro Course Zen Meditation, S
Murray, 6:30-8:30 pm, 1214 Packard Rd. Reg req. 761-6520.
Chem--Sem, L L Lohr & H C Griffin, "Cold Fushion--A
Discussion," 4 pm, Chem Rm 1200.
Sociology/Ctr Near East & N African Stds--Lec, S Tamari,
"An Informal Chat with Salim Tamari," noon, 4051 LSA. 764-
0350.
Ethnics & Religion/Ecumenical Campus Ctr--Lec, S
Tamari, "The Intifada: The Palestinian Struggle for Peace with
Israel," 7:30 pm, 120 S State. 7>4-0350.
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