Campus-wide email from Dr. Witt

malanai
Sun, 06 Feb 2011 13:24:06 +0000

As a parent of a junior very likely to be NMF, we are considering u of Alabama because of the wonderful scholarship offered. I do have concerns about diversity and tolerance on any college campus any of my kids might go to, because I would think that any of my kids (or myself for that matter) would find it soul-sucking to live with a culture of bigotry and hate for 4 years - whether it’s against someone of a certain race, sexual orientation, gender, or any other silly reason people choose to discriminate for.



Our son is a NMF and a freshman at UA. We too had the same concerns before sending him to Bama and I can now say unequivocally that we and he made the right decision. Are there bigots and racists at UA? Of course. But then again, I’ve been called an “f-ing haole” on more than one occasion right here in Hawaii by our local brand of racists, known as brown necks.

Racisim and bigotry are everywhere. They key for me is how they are responded to. My son told me a story about how he was accosted one evening in Tuscaloosa by a drunk student who, seeing that my son was wearing a wool scarf with his winter jacket, screamed out, “f-ing ■■■■■■!” The impressive part of the story is that the inebriated idiot was surrounded by a group of friends, ALL of whom appeared mortified and apologized for this moron’s shameful conduct.

As I’ve said in a previous post, those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. Bama has chosen to remember and to formally memorialize it. Check out the dedication of Malone-Hood Plaza and the Autherine Lucy Clock Tower at Foster Auditorium, including a marvelous video at: [Dedication of Malone-Hood Plaza & Autherine Lucy Clock Tower - The University of Alabama](Page Not Found | The University of Alabama)

I have met Dr. Witt and I’m convinced he’s a visionary leader who is taking UA to great places. So to all of you out there who are considering Bama, please give it a fair and balanced look. Better still, come on down and be part of the (r)evolution.

Roll Tide.