It isn't pleasant to call for someone's job. But as both a Jewish American and a Vanderbilt grad, there is absolutely no place at our university for a man hired to shape young minds who publicly (or, for that matter, privately) expresses support for the legitimization of the current outgrowth of anti-semitism. Vanderbilt should not be associated with such people. And this has nothing at all to do with football. If firing Dan Jackson means we don't win another game, that is well worth the cost of taking such a stand. I care a ton about football. I care more that my alma mater isn't supporting the persecution of my people.
I don't want to play "me tooism", but who would not call for a coach's head if they said, "David Duke is two steps ahead of everyone. He is not crazy... People need to wake up and speak their mind". Would CDD and ADCSL and CCL accept such a coach? If the Athletic Department is closing ranks around an anti-semite, then CDD or the University faculty or the Board of Trust needs to stop it. And you better bet that I will personally involve those Board of Trust members I know if action is not taken. This is actually worse than anything Kanye or Kyrie has said. This man is actually paid by an academic institution for the express purpose of leading young people and shaping their minds.
Clark Lea, are these the values of the program you want to lead? Is this the program's identity? Does this reflect your five covenants or the small habits and winning choices that you claim to inculcate? Is this the example of the disciplined focus that you talk about? Candice Storey Lee, you've fired coaches for alcohol offenses. Do you think hating Jews is less bad than that? Chancellor Diermeier. How does your Jewish wife feel about one of your employees using the perch that you pay him to occupy who is also supporting the persecution of your wife? As an American of German roots, you know too well the dangers of what happens when anti-semitism creeps into the mainstream and is legitimized. Do you want such anti-semitism to weave its claws into the institution you lead?
I understand the need to do immediate damage control with coordinated press statements. That simply is not enough. This isn't something that a media relations-crafted apology solves.
If Vanderbilt wants to hire anti-semites to lead its youth, I don't want to associated with Vanderbilt. It's that simple. I'll pull my support completely, and encourage my friends and colleagues to do the same. As a community, do we want to condone our educators' anti-semitism or stand against it? The answer should be clear.
I don't want to play "me tooism", but who would not call for a coach's head if they said, "David Duke is two steps ahead of everyone. He is not crazy... People need to wake up and speak their mind". Would CDD and ADCSL and CCL accept such a coach? If the Athletic Department is closing ranks around an anti-semite, then CDD or the University faculty or the Board of Trust needs to stop it. And you better bet that I will personally involve those Board of Trust members I know if action is not taken. This is actually worse than anything Kanye or Kyrie has said. This man is actually paid by an academic institution for the express purpose of leading young people and shaping their minds.
Clark Lea, are these the values of the program you want to lead? Is this the program's identity? Does this reflect your five covenants or the small habits and winning choices that you claim to inculcate? Is this the example of the disciplined focus that you talk about? Candice Storey Lee, you've fired coaches for alcohol offenses. Do you think hating Jews is less bad than that? Chancellor Diermeier. How does your Jewish wife feel about one of your employees using the perch that you pay him to occupy who is also supporting the persecution of your wife? As an American of German roots, you know too well the dangers of what happens when anti-semitism creeps into the mainstream and is legitimized. Do you want such anti-semitism to weave its claws into the institution you lead?
I understand the need to do immediate damage control with coordinated press statements. That simply is not enough. This isn't something that a media relations-crafted apology solves.
If Vanderbilt wants to hire anti-semites to lead its youth, I don't want to associated with Vanderbilt. It's that simple. I'll pull my support completely, and encourage my friends and colleagues to do the same. As a community, do we want to condone our educators' anti-semitism or stand against it? The answer should be clear.
