BUS to protest Pan-African chair  

By Corinne Henahan 
Cultural Affairs Reporter 
Friday, November 21, 1997

   Black United Students will hold a rally at noon today in the Student Center plaza sup- porting a letter issued Thursday by BUS demanding the resignation of George Garrison, chairman of the Department of Pan-African Studies. 
    BUS gave six reasons they are unhappy with Garrison, delivering the letter to him by hand. Among the complaints were charges of "disregard of the historical mission" of the department, "open opposition to the African- American student body" and "inability to serve as a responsible and professional faculty member." 
    The letter said Garrison fails to "maintain a working relationship with the African-American student body" and "recognize the authority of the director of the Center of Pan-African Cul- ture." The letter also cites Garrison's reassign- ment of student office space in Oscar Ritchie Hall. 
    Garrison responded to these charges, say- ing he has no intention of resigning. 
    "There is no truth to the allegations in this letter," Garrison said. 
    BUS President Stacey McMillan said the group's action results from many incidents that have occurred over time. 
    "It's an accumulation of events that have happened over the years," McMillan said. She added that she will explain these events at the rally. 
    BUS Vice President Traci Easley agreed with McMillan, saying dissatisfaction with Garrison has been building. 
    "Over the last four years, the organization has been aware of a number of questionable incidents, Easley said. "That has led us to the actions we are now taking." 
    McMillan quoted the constitution of BUS as grounds to get involved. The constitution says that BUS works to ensure an environment "conducive to black students in their quest to obtain a quality and meaningful education. 
    "Under his leadership we do not feel that is being accomplished, McMillan said. 
    Francis Dorsey, director of the Center of Pan-African Culture, said Garrison violates university policy. 
    As director of the center, Dorsey said he should see a copy of the budget, which he said is separate from the Department of Pan-African Studies. 
    Dorsey said he has not seen a budget for the Center in two years.  
    It is now November and the chair of the department, as of this date, has not yet given me a budget for the Center of Pan-African Culture," Dorsey said. 
    Dorsey said he has not seen a budget for the center in two years. Dorsey also said budget decisions he makes are often not recognized by Garrison.  
    Dorsey said he feels there are personal problems between him and Garrison. 
    Dorsey was one of four professors of Pan-African Studies to sign a letter last December to   Joseph Danks, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, requesting an early review of Garrison. 
    Dorsey said 11 months later, no action has been taken. 
    This is now November, and the process still has not taken place," Dorsey said. 
    Charles Greene, vice president for Human Resources, said the review process has begun. 
    "There is a process for reviewing, and that is under way," Greene said. Garrison refused to comment specifically on Dorsey's allegations.
    "These things are going to be dealt with during that process," Garrison said. 
    Garrison said he did not think BUS came to these conclusions on its own. 
    "These young people are being misled and manipulated," Garrison said. 
    Dorsey said he disagreed. 
    "That is something they have moved on their own Dorsey said. "He has shown the same lack of respect to the students." 
    Easley said BUS has always had very close ties to the Center of Pan-African Culture, which she says is reason enough to get involved. 
    "The Center of Pan-African Culture is man- aged by the Department of Pan-African Studies in conjunction with Black United Students, so the board has always had a close relationship with the department as well as the center," Easley said. "We (BUS) founded the Center of Pan-African Culture.  
    "That came before the Department of Pan- African Studies. The department came after that because the university saw the demands of black students." 
    Dorsey said he feels there are forces working against the center's involvement with BUS. "The Center of Pan-African Culture is managed by the Department of Pan-African Studies in conjunction with Black United Students, so the board has always had a close relationship with the department as well as the center," Easley said. "We (BUS) founded the Center of Pan-African Culture. 
    "That came before the Department of Pan-African Studies. The department came after that because the university saw the demands of black students." 
    Dorsey said he feels there are personal problems between him and Garrison. 
    "There are a lot of people that are trying to undermine the role that the center has played in relation to BUS," he said. 
    Greene said the involvement of BUS will impact Garrison's review. 
    "All of those things become things to be considered," Greene said. 
    Dorsey said he thinks the BUS rally will serve to inform the university community of the problem that exists. 
    "I think it is a means to allowing the community to know that something isn't right," he said. 
    "I think it is a means of allowing the community to know that something isn't right," he said.