New Web site allows students to file discrimination complaints

By Robby Lewis

Published Oct. 9, 2007

Each of the four UM system campuses are creating Web sites to report academic discrimination, according to a report presented to members of the system's governing board Thursday.

The new Web site, which allows students to log complaints of discrimination based on their academic beliefs, will make it easier for MU students to file complaints on potential injustices in the classroom, Associate Vice Provost Michael Prewitt said.

According to a report presented to the UM system Board of Curators Academic and Student Affairs Committee, each UM campus will establish a readily accessible Web site for students to register concerns or complaints about an instructor.

Prewitt, who said his position requires him to spend a quarter of his time dealing with intellectual diversity, will be responsible for monitoring the Web site. He said the new Web site, which is now mandatory for all four universities, is going to be much more efficient than the former process.

"There wasn't an organized office," Prewitt said. "If there were a complaint, we'd discuss it. The Web site is a much easier way for students to file complaints."

The Web site allows students to be more informed about their rights, Prewitt said.

At the curators meeting, representatives from each UM system campus gave a presentation on intellectual pluralism, Prewitt said. At this meeting, each campus agreed that students needed an easy way to report unjust issues.

"I think it's necessary," Prewitt said. "I think we've done a good job in the past, but this allows students to be more informed."

Prewitt said he believes this won't affect many professors' behavior.

"It's hard to tell," Prewitt said. "Most people won't change. They'll just be more aware. They know they have to be respectable. If they say things, they need to say 'in my opinion.'"

The report stated that when and how a student can file a complaint on campus will be included at student orientation for freshmen.

Leona Rubin, the MU Faculty Council Faculty Affairs Committee chairwoman, said the material college professors teach students touches base on many issues with difficult dialogue.

Rubin said she feels students sometimes misinterpret a professor's desire to make them think as a professor forcing them to think what they think.

"The faculty is fighting to be able to talk about controversial issues in class," Rubin said. "Most faculty is concerned that, with this Web site, it won't allow them to bring up difficult dialogues. If I had to teach a class that dealt with these issues, I wouldn't want to change your mind, but I'd want you to think about it."

Rubin said she worries the Web site will not allow professors the opportunity to give their say.

"If there's a grievance by a professor about their administrator, the administrator has a chance to respond," Rubin said. "If a student has a problem, the teacher might have no opportunity to clarify that."

The debate on intellectual diversity started when Emily Brooker, a Missouri State University student, sued the university after one of her professors lowered her grade when she refused to sign a petition against her personal beliefs.

This inspired the Emily Brooker Intellectual Diversity Act in the Missouri General Assembly, which would have required state universities and colleges to set guidelines and procedures for dealing with violations of intellectual diversity.

Rubin said she feels what happened at Missouri State University is not an accurate example of the majority of college professors.

"Most of the faculty was appalled by what happened at Missouri State," Rubin said. "I understand why they're doing this, but I don't like it. To have a curator say this is a deep-seeded problem in academics is not accurate."

Rubin said MU professors want their students to know they respect their students' opinions and beliefs.

Prewitt said, more than anything, the Web site allows UM campuses to be ahead on an issue that is being discussed throughout the country.

"The incident at Missouri State University started this," Prewitt said. "Over 30 states have addressed this issue. Our four-campus system wants to stay ahead."