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St. Cloud State University
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Commentary
University takes unclear stance in recent controversy
Published:
Monday, January 20, 2003
There is not an eloquent or unique way of stating this simple fact: the university needs to clarify the guidelines of the responsibilities for which faculty must be held accountable.
The issue concerning the physical confrontation between a female faculty member and a male student is an untimely event. Between the anti-Semitism lawsuit and numerous financial adjustments, SCSU has called itself to more negative attention than is both tolerable and respectable. This university cannot afford any more controversy.
Above all, the university is taking a stance far too ambiguous for the situation. With a reputation that is already stained by numerous controversies, the action taken should be more clear, direct and time-sensitive.
One argument against in this most recent incident is that the female faculty member, 5 feet 4 inches tall, is accused of having assaulted a male student, 6 feet 3 inches tall. Whether the professor is a foot shorter than the student is of little concern; size is a weak matter that proves nothing more than physical fact. Assault is assault, regardless of the size of the persons involved.
As defined in Webster's dictionary, assault is "an unlawful threat or unsuccessful attempt to do physical harm to another, causing a present fear of immediate harm."
Whether the student was harmed or not, what Karasik did certainly could have been considered assault unless the university has a different definition of "assault" which must be made known. The administrators needs to realize that a mistake has been made and consequences should result.
Had the student been a female and the faculty member been male, would term"assault" been more readily accepted? Would the issue have gone without attempted reconciliation a month after the incident took place? Probably not.
If SCSU has any hopes of recovering from such tremendous, threatening controversies, it is a priority for administrators and decision makers to clearly identify the university's stance and resolutions.
