Today, The Herald has published two full-page op-eds regarding the nature of readings and a guest lecture given in a sociology class at Brown. Kyle Tildon ’19 argues that contents of a guest lecture by Yale Professor of Sociology Elijah Anderson and texts written by Anderson are racist and sexist and that Professor of Sociology John Logan did not appropriately preface these readings or address Tildon’s concerns about them. Logan argues that Anderson’s texts and guest lecture are not racist or sexist and that he did appropriately address Tildon’s concerns.
As the University’s paper of record, The Herald aimed to provide a platform for Tildon to publish his concerns, particularly given that these concerns are relevant to current campus discourse. But The Herald is also cognizant of the weight of these claims and aimed to publish them in a way that is fair to those accused. Prior to the publication of Tildon’s op-ed, The Herald contacted both Anderson and Logan Feb. 25 with a summary of the claims and the proposition that they write op-eds to run on the same day as Tildon’s. Anderson chose not to submit an op-ed.
The Herald also verified the facts on which Tildon bases his claims. The Herald confirmed that the quotes in Tildon’s op-ed are accurate and that Anderson did visit a session of Logan’s class in which Tildon was formerly enrolled. Tildon’s interpretation of these facts is his own, as is Logan’s.
Editors’ notes are written by The Herald’s 126th Editorial Board: Emma Jerzyk ’17, Joseph Zappa ’17, Andrew Flax ’17 and Caroline Kelly ’17.
