A word remains in the language as long as it has work to do. Chinua
Achebe wrote words to this effect in his treatise on the plight of Black
people in _The Trouble With Nigeria_. The n-word has persisted despite
its ugly history because it still has vitriol meaning, and even though
it has been recycled as a Hip-Hop term used among the homies, the word
still has a critical function in this society as a catalyst for racial
tension. It obviously still has that work to do, so I don't fault Mr.
Marlette or Mr. Gimignani for their use of the word. They are a product
of this society, just as we all are.

As an African American male employed on this campus, current president
of the Association of Black Faculty and Staff, Clinical Director of the
Employee Assistance Program at the University of Florida, and UF
alumnus, I am really concerned about the possible consequences of the
implications of the Alligator cartoon. The use of the cartoon, the
decision to audaciously use the n-word, and the accompanying insensitive
article were certainly within their rights. But that does not make it
right. Then, when told that it was offensive, rather than apologizing,
to imply that those who are offended are unreasonable and irrational
makes it clear that there is no interest in alternative points of view,
only defense of their own. Meanwhile, the hurt intensifies and grows.

When there is an emotional reaction to any stimulus, there is going to
be three levels of response. There will be a physiological, gut-level
reaction that will be expressed somehow. The emotional outrage is being
expressed already in many ways, and yes, it is a reflex, or "knee-jerk"
reaction. There will also be accompanying thoughts and attitudes, that
may also be expressed, but are often not verbalized or even consciously
articulated. Thirdly, there will be some behavioral response, some
action towards resolution of the emotional unrest. Protests, letters,
discussions, boycotts, or more aggressive actions may be the potential
outcomes of this third component.

Since the Alligator has used the n-word to catalyze attention to the
increasing deterioration of mutual respect around racially-charged
issues here at UF, there is going to be expression of the emotional
outrage. It has already begun. There are also going to be actions taken,
and I would encourage each of you to take the ameliorative actions that
are within your power.

Mike Gimignani, it is within your power to say that you are sorry that
your decision resulted in some people feeling demeaned and insulted. It
does not seem too much of an imposition to ask for a retraction or
correction if the content, for which you are responsible, was misleading
or could be misconstrued.

President Machen, and Dr. Telles-Irvin, I also would invite you to use
this event to organize some meaningful discussion about what this really
means about the various attitudes and beliefs about African Americans at
UF specifically, and African Americans in general. Since it potentially
affects the entire campus climate, it might be helpful to have a
moderated panel of respondents, including yourselves, Mr. Gimignani, Mr.
Marlette, representatives from the Black Student Union, the Black
Graduate Student Organization, the Association of Black Faculty and
Staff, Student Government, for example. Ideally it would be broadcast on
WRUF so that there was campus-wide access. Then, there could be some
progress towards articulation and understanding of the various
perspectives, and a better chance to actually hear each other. I offer
to solicit volunteers from my office to assist in the facilitation of
this panel discussion, should you deem it helpful.

Obviously, I have no power to make you do anything. But, since that
cartoon, I now wonder when I meet a white person while crossing campus
whether they also agree that it is no big deal to think of me as an
n-word. Thanks for that. Obviously, we have work to do.

Anthony Greene, Ph. D.
ABFS President