Private altercation becomes a public matter

Students allege hostile environment at UC

By Robert Nathan Eberhart
From the December 2005 Print Edition

A UC Berkeley Social Welfare Department staff member was accused of using a racial epithet toward a student in October during an argument at a West Berkeley apartment complex where they both live.

In front of a large audience that included Chancellor Robert Birgeneau, student Erika Williams on November 10 charged Undergraduate Advisor Sherman Boyson with calling her a “n— bitch.”

Boyson confirmed the use of the slur and told the Daily Californian that he delivered a written apology days after the altercation.

“He attacked my gender, he attacked my race, the two things that I could never change about myself,” a tearful Williams said. Williams concluded her testimony with a declaration against the political right, saying, “And I’ll be damned if I’m going to let … the anti-anything-that-isn’t-white-or-Republican push me out of my rightful place in society.”

The accusation was made at a public inquiry into the supposed hostile climate for underrepresented minority students, organized by the left-wing civil rights organization BAMN. Sponsored by the Associated Students of the University of California, the forum was moderated by liberal activist Shanta Driver, National Director of United for Equality & Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund, and ASUC CalSERVE senators Yvette Felarca and Ashley Thomas.

In an interview with the Daily Cal, Boyson defended the privacy of his actions. “Bottom line: This shouldn’t even be in the public,” Boyson said. “It was a trash-talking argument between two people who live in an apartment building and didn’t even know each other, didn’t know each other were connected to UC.”

In her statement, Williams also accused administration officials of apathy. When she told Denise Oldham, the Equity Program Manager and Discrimination Complaint Resolution Officer, about the incidents, Oldham allegedly responded, “Frankly, I don’t care how you feel.”

When asked about the allegation in a brief interview, Oldham claimed, “I do not know what you are talking about.”

BAMN has called for Boyson’s resignation, saying in a recent opinion article that “Erika’s experience made clear this policy of turning a blind eye to racism is institutionalized within UC.” But a close examination of the facts does not suggest that this incident is “institutionalized” within the administration.

In light of the facts of the accusation, Boyson’s resignation should not be a forgone conclusion. According to other students, Boyson has demonstrated a consistent pattern of compassion and understanding throughout his career as an academic adviser.

Kay Hernandez, a 1999 UC Berkeley graduate and student of Boyson, has vouched for her adviser’s character. “The Undergraduate Advisor, Sherman Boyson, was a great resource in helping me get the most out of my education by suggesting what classes would foster the kinds of skills and knowledge base I was looking for,” Hernandez said in a 2002 interview with the Cal Career Center.

Another student, Noel Cohen, stated, “Sherman is one of the most socially conscious people I have ever met.”

Additionally, Boyson has received numerous awards for his committed service towards students. Recently, he received personal recognition from the chancellor as an “everyday hero” and in 2002 received another commendation for outstanding service toward students.

This is not a case in which his awards and pattern of service toward students can justify his actions, but they do suggest that this might be an isolated incident provoked as an emotional reaction by Williams, who called him a “fat f—” before he insulted her.

Furthermore, the incident did not occur in connection with his position as an academic adviser. Boyson claims that he did not know that Williams was a student and that the incident was a private altercation between two people.

By BAMN calling for Boyson’s immidiate resignation, they expose their base political motives. BAMN needs a symbol of institutionalized rascism in order to legitimize its political ends. It doesn’t matter to them if Boyson is not a rascist. BAMN is willing to over look the truth, to destroy a productive and celebrated career for the base advancement of their left-wing political agenda.

Destroying this man’s reputation and firing him from his position would not prevent rascism if it exists within the administration and would harm UC Berkeley in light of the commited service that he has provided to the students.

While Williams’ testimony was the most scathing of those presented at the forum, other students with less specific accusations portrayed UC Berkeley as a racially divisive university.

Among them was Martha Hernandez, who attributed her failing grades to rascism. After accusing her professors of racism, Hernandez claimed that the large number of “privileged white people” at UC Berkeley is a result of “donations from white people … If Mommy and Daddy have enough money to buy your diploma then that’s all you need.”

Hernandez also claimed that despite failing her College Writing course, she deserved her admission to UC Berkeley more than white students. “I know I worked harder than the white students here,” Hernandez said.

The forum has confirmed what many activists have already perceived as a racially hostile climate in Berkeley. One might wonder how Berkeley, the quintessential “progressive” city, can be faced with such a problem.

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