Univ. of Oregon law professor put on leave for blackface costume is former diversity committee chair

[TexasTowelie]

The law professor who wore blackface at a Halloween party is a distinguished member of the University of Oregon faculty who's taught at the school since 1982 and once served as chair of the law school's diversity committee, according to her resume.

Nancy Shurtz is the UO School of Law professor whose Halloween costume sparked condemnation from her dean, the president of the university, and 23 of her colleagues.

A law school colleague confirmed Shurtz's identity to The Oregonian/OregonLive on the condition of anonymity. University officials have declined to disclose the professor's name, citing employee confidentiality.

Shurtz did not respond to multiple requests for comment.

Read more: http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2016/11/uo_law_professor_suspended_for.html

[Skittles]

1. when are people going to get it

blackface costume = NOT A GOOD IDEA

[femmedem]

2. It seems she was trying to bring attention to the lack of black students in medical school

and talk about race and medicine.

From the story:

"...She appeared to have told students her costume was based on "Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine." The memoir tells the story of Dr. Damon Tweedy, a black doctor, and his reflections on race and medicine.

In her apology, according to the TV station, Shurtz said her daughter is a medical school student and didn't have any black male students in her class. "She and others were outraged," Shurtz wrote, according to the KEZI account. Her daughter then was able to get a portion of Tweedy's book assigned as reading.

Shurtz said she thought she would "be able to teach with this costume as well (or at least tell an interesting story)," according to the KEZI story..."

It's easy to jump to judgment and condemnation. But I think this situation is more complex than it appears from the headline.

[Skittles]

3. again, it is still

*NOT A GOOD IDEA*

this is been shown many, many times, regardless of the circumstances

it simply is not appropriate

[femmedem]

4. Agreed. I'm white, but when I try to imagine being black and seeing someone in blackface

it feels like a punch to the gut.

What I'm clumsily trying to say is that I think she was culturally insensitive, but didn't intend to mock or belittle.

[Skittles]

5. I agree with that assessment