To the Editor:

Re: “A Pragmatic Move for Africana Center,” Opinion, Jan. 25

This column betrays what I assume is the high value of a Cornell education, i.e. that a person does not make decisions for the sake of expediency. I assume that Cornell students develop a set of principles that will not allow them to sell their souls to the highest bidder. The author has characterized my resignation as Director of the Africana Center as an “outburst” and a “poor career choice.”  Readers should decide for themselves the nature of these characterizations. I hope that Cornell students make “career choices” that preserve their credibility, dignity, integrity and self-respect. The author is sorely misinformed.  If he has anything in writing from the Provost’s office supporting a “doubling” of the Africana Center’s faculty, I ask that he share such a document with me.

 The author latches on to the statements of a few individuals regarding the term “racism.” As I previously commented to a Sun reporter, I do not use the term “racism” as applied to individuals. It is troubling, nevertheless when someone tells you that he or she is making a decision in your best interest without a full discussion of the decision. Rather than “racism,” how about condescension, paternalism and disrespect?

Robert L. Harris Jr., Director of the Africana Center