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Threadbare Apologies?

Students at New Mexico State University and supporters from the community weren’t placated by President Mike Martin’s two letters of apology as they brandished needle and thread on the Horseshoe Monday.

About 100 protesters waved signs, chanted, and stitched swatches of fabric, saying the administration needs to show in deeds, not words, that it values academic freedom, non-discrimination and student input.

A core group of about a dozen “sewing circle” members, taking their theme from what they described as Martin’s dismissive and sexist remark about last week’s protest over the termination of two Health Science Department professors, chanted for television cameras, declaring:

“Two, four, six, eight – why do you discriminate?
Three, five, seven, nine – President Martin’s out of line.”

Many lined up to sign petitions calling for the reinstatement of professors Yelena Bird and John Moraros, and an external investigation of charges College of Health and Social Services associate dean Larry Olsen used university computer equipment to circulate pornography.

Andrea Trimarco seemed to sum up student sentiments when she said Martin’s apology was a good start but that a lot of underlying attitudes in the university’s administration still need to be addressed. “This didn’t start with Dr. Martin’s comments. These grievances have been building for a long time.”

A post on a MySpace web site some of the students created read:

“NMSU Health Sciences Department Administration have been maltreating students and faculty allegations include but are not limited to: Racial discrimination, sexual harassment, illegal hiring practices, hostile work and academic environment, illegal termination of contracts, retaliation, retribution, stonewalling, prejudice, bias of Undergrad and Grad students.”

Some of the signs displayed included, “the Healing Begins with Truth,” and “Racism Should Not be a Part of the Education Process.” Others wore tags pinned to their clothing proclaiming, “I am woman, hear me sew.”

Martin issued a second apology Saturday, after an e-mail sent to all university accounts on Thursday expressed regret if his remarks as quoted in the Sun-News had offended anyone. The Saturday e-mail, carried as a letter to the Sun-News on Tuesday, said he “regrets recent statements… created hurt throughout our community,” and declared, “we value open and respectful debate.”

But as is typical of so many apologies American style these days, there seemed to be little substance behind the rhetoric. If Martin values open debate and student input, why did he say last Tuesday that protests rarely affect policy and why did he belittle a legitimate attempt to question the dismissal of two minority professors who seemed to be superior instructors and researchers? Why is the administration standing behind the decision to terminate the professors regardless of what an investigation may reveal, despite graphic evidence of misconduct by one or more college administrators? Why did he ignore complaints by students and faculty alike about harassment and discrimination in this department over the course of many months?

The greater university community might be more inclined to accept an apology if it saw some action to establish zero tolerance regarding racism, sexism, pornography and the abiding tendency to ignore any threats to the good-old-boy status quo that has been the modus operandi at NMSU for generations.

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