A shadow has been cast on the campus and community of Northwest Christian College. With a new label, “racist,” which is far from “Christian,” this small religious college is facing a controversy over recent events concerning the firing of Associate Dean of Education and School Counseling Betsy Clewett.
As reported in the Emerald on Monday ( “NCC dean qustions reason for dismissal,” ODE, Jan. 13), the firing of Clewett has raised awareness of how the institution treats minority students, leading a few students and staff to believe the school is unjust.
Clewett was fired from her position at NCC in December for what she and her supporters believe was having a voice for the minority students of the community. As a result, three other faculty members have resigned, including Cloe Veney, NCC’s only black faculty member in its history, and lawsuits may be filed against the college.
Although President James Womack claims the dismissal of Clewett was not on the basis of race, I still feel that the handful of students have a right to be concerned.
Clewett and supporters claim that the treatment of minority students at the college was not up to par compared to that of white students. They said this often resulted in minorities having difficulties receiving help from the financial aid office, difficulty with housing and mistreatment of the black basketball players and other students of color from both staff and peers.
As a former student, it saddens me to hear of the recent events of this college that is so dear to my heart and has helped shape the person I am today. As I first read of this controversy in The Register-Guard earlier this month, I was shocked to hear the news.
Although I have never witnessed this kind of behavior from students and staff, I do not doubt that this goes on. I do recall a few instances where race was discussed between my peers in the rug room (a commonplace for students to gather), but I thought it was in good fun. Although I was not involved, I feel for the students who believe they were persecuted.
This behavior doesn’t surprise me much, however, on the basis of the demographics of the institution. Within this small community of 500 students, NCC reported in 2001 that minorities compose only 10 percent of the student body (which is typical of small Christian colleges). Also, a typical trend I have noticed in the composition of the campus is that many students seek the “small-college” atmosphere because they, too, come from small towns and communities, and often have not experienced such cultural diversity before.
I hope that this situation will bring something positive to the students and staff of NCC. I hope that NCC can continue to be a loving community, and only expand from here, integrating more culturally aware programs to help change the demographics of the school.
On Aug. 28, 1963, the powerful message from Martin Luther King Jr. rang through Washington, D.C., as his “I Have a Dream” speech was delivered from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. I can only hope that nearly 40 years later, it can make an impact at NCC as well.
As he said: “All of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: ‘Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!’”
To use King’s words, I hope the minority students can feel comfortable at their college again and not be treated differently on the basis of the color of their skin, but of the content of their character.