Annmarie Payne email #1

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Jonathan Farley <lattice.theory@gmail.com>
Date: 2007/1/24
Subject: Re: Black Student Alliance president charges Chancellor Gordon Gee and Vice Chancellor Michael Schoenfeld of racism
To: "Payne, Annmarie Janet" <annmarie.j.payne@vanderbilt.edu>

Hello,

Yes, it seems the links are broken.

I was a mathematics professor at Vanderbilt for many years. I was also the faculty advisor for the Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students at Vanderbilt and the Caribbean Students Association. I often worked with the Black Student Alliance. I would argue that I was the professor at Vanderbilt who most supported the black students, in all schools.

In 2002, the Black Student Alliance president Nia Toomer and her officer Candace Chatham (if I have spelled her name correctly) approached me to help them with the issue surrounding Confederate Memorial Hall. The Green Party of the United States (the national party, not just a local organiation) officially supported Vanderbilt's decision to change the name of the hall. Tim Chavez, a local conservative columnist for the Tennessean, then attacked me in print, as I was a local representative of the Green Party. My response was an essay in the Tennessean, published November 20, 2002, that discussed not Vanderbilt but mainly the statue of Klan-founder Nathan Bedford Forrest off of I-65.

Immediately, Vanderbilt officials, including Gee and Schoenfeld, even though they were being sued by the neo-Confederates, turned on me and made what Nia Toomer called racist remarks that they must retract. They also tried to affect my job.

The link to the Hustler is a letter by Nia Toomer, on behalf of the Black Student Alliance, calling for Gee and Schoenfeld to retract their statements. I think this call should be renewed by the BSA. At the very least, Gee and Schoenfeld should publicly explain why they have never criticized the neo-Confederates or the 19th Century Confederates, although they did criticize a black Vanderbilt professor in extreme terms when that professor (me) criticized the 19th Century Confederates and slaveholders.

The situation actually became much more serious than that. I would be happy to call you to speak to you about this further.

Regards,

Jonathan Farley

876 446 3184

On 1/24/07, Payne, Annmarie Janet <annmarie.j.payne@vanderbilt.edu> wrote:

Dear Mr. Farley,

My name is Annmarie Payne and I am the acting president of the Black
Student Alliance for the Spring of 2007. I was trying to open the links
that you have sent but I am unable to see anything. Also, I have not made
your acquaintance can you give me some information about yourself. And if
you are interested can you come speak with the Black Student Alliance and
with Chancellor Gee about the issue at hand because this is not the first
I have heard of this.

Thank you,
Annmarie Payne

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Payne, Annmarie Janet
Vanderbilt University
Email: annmarie.j.payne@Vanderbilt.Edu