Professors at Carnegie Mellon Raise Objections to Planned Campus in Africa

September 26, 2011, 6:33 pm

Faculty members at Carnegie Mellon University’s Marianna Brown Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences are raising concerns about the institution’s plan to open a campus in Rwanda. The university’s president, Jared L. Cohon, said he would sit down with the professors to discuss the issues after a petition circulated at the college, said Richard Purcell, an assistant professor of English who organized the protest. The petition questioned the university’s decision to team up with Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, citing charges that his government has violated human rights and press freedoms. The petition received at least 25 signatures, though Mr. Purcell said he stopped collecting names once Mr. Cohon agreed to the meeting.

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dale1

Somehow I doubt Prof. Purcell went through the regular faculty governance channels to address his and others’ concerns. However, the action does seem to be effective at getting the president’s ear. Gutsy for an assistant professor.

In this economic environment, not sure how CMU can consider such an undertaking, in spite of the other legitimate concerns raised by Purcell and his colleagues.
karasanyi

I think this a counter productive objection. The CMU’s plans to establish itself in Africa is good for Rwandans and East African youth and it would definitely help them integrate this first moving world. This does not help President Kagame but Rwandan and East African citizens.

President Cohon, please do listen to this counter productive argument. We need you, we need CMU to uplift the welfare of citizens. I am sure you will always remember this as one of the important decisions you have ever made during your tenure as the CMU President.
micwill

Because Rwanda is giving them $95 million. There are much more suitable locations in Africa but they weren’t offering so much money
annesebastian

To the Prof. who circulated the petition- I write this to you, as a woman, an
immigrant, an African and above all a Christian who is saddened by the thought
of an esteemed professor petitioning to stop such a dignified plan.

You see, many people portrayed Africans as noble savages. Africa
was mostly pictured as the “Dark Continent”,
inhabited by childlike, superstitious, and fearful people. To save these “noble
savages” Europeans at the time believed colonialism was an agent of enlightenment
to primitive people without a valid value system or civilization of their own. Today although colonialism has ended, Africa still suffers from the aftermath. Millions of people live below the poverty line and life expectancy rate continues to decrease each year. Many are born
into a life filled with disparity and hopelessness.

But,leaders of INDEPENDENT nations such as Rwanda, are determined to decrease
poverty and portray the greatness of its people to the rest of the World by implementing
PERMANENT change. They are equipping their citizens never to live in disparity
and hopelessness. One such way of fighting the war of poverty is through the
pursuit of KNOWLEDGE – a never-ending process where Rwandan people strive to
challenge and be challenged.

….. And so, I say this to you Prof., your petition to stop this alliance is detrimental
to the new beginning of a generation who will be fully equipped to breakthrough
a never ending cycle of “lack of knowledge”. You are suffocating a generation
of young adults from not being able to experience the world-class education
that can bring about change in the lives of many. After all, change brought
about people that were instrumental to end colonialism and allowed generation
to be free all over again.

….this change will also bring about people who would be instrumental in sawing the
seed of EDUCATION- a tool that can make a country free of disparity ones and
for all.

Do not be a hindrance.