Cornell University In Uproar Over Plans for the Africana Studies and Research Center

Academic controversy is brewing on the campus of Cornell University over a high-level plan to move its Africana Studies and Research Center under the College of Arts and Sciences. The dispute has places faculty members of color against the university administration who claim that department savings and support would enhance the Center.

Funding for the Africana Center, under the university’s plan, would be funneled through the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Kent Fuchs, Cornell’s provost, says that the university plans to increase funding for the Center. However, faculty members believe the arrangement will allow the College of Arts and Sciences to make the ultimate decisions about future funding. Faculty at the Africana Center do not want to see part of their budget go to other unrelated programs in the College of Arts and Sciences.

“Financially, if Africana goes under Arts and Sciences, there will no longer be the guaranteed budget that comes from the central administration,” says Dr. Carole Boyce Davies, one of the center’s faculty members and an opponent of the university’s plan.

The initial reaction to Fuchs’s decision late last year was met with a strong opposition from the Africana Center’s faculty.

“His [Fuchs’s] approach in explaining his decision to the faculty was patronizing, autocratic, and non- negotiable. He essentially decided to change the structure which will gravely undermine ASRC in the future,” the faculty said in a joint press statement.

Dr. Fuchs says that the response to his decision was surprising, but he is keeping an open mind about plans for the future.

“I’ve made a decision, but I’m now taking input from everybody,” Fuchs says.

“As I told the director of the Center: If there is ample evidence that the Center would be stronger by continuing to report to me instead of being part of a college, and that it’s best for the university, I’d be happy to change my mind,” he added

Opened in 1970, the Africana Studies and Research Center follows people from the African diaspora – specifically Africans, African-Americans, and African-Caribbeans – to track their migration and reconstruction patterns over time. The center is made up of international faculty, scholars, intellectuals, and students from every area of the university community. The John Henrik Clarke Africana Library, home to over 17,000 selective works about culture and history in the African diaspora, is located at the Center.

Matt E. Stevens is the creator and chief blogger of Prune Juice Media. The site takes a sarcastic and informative look at the issues of the day – namely politics and current affairs. The goal of the site is to share information and make people laugh, or at least think. Matt is a contributing writer for Politic365.

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One Response to Cornell University In Uproar Over Plans for the Africana Studies and Research Center

1. NoMatterWhatShape says:

   6:24pm April 20, 2011 at 6:24 pm

   You know, budget cuts have been common in universities over the last few years and will continue until the economy improves and alumni support rebounds.

   I don't see why one department should feel it is exempt.

   Moving the Africana Center under the college seems like good management, not a scheme.

   Reply