Silence, Social Justice, or Something in Between: U.S. University Presidents' Responses to Charlottesville

• In Event: 28.089 - MTCC Roundtable Session 10
  In Roundtable Session: 28.089-4 - Social Justice Leadership Confronts Extremism

Abstract

In this study we investigate how U.S. university presidents responded to the violence that occurred in August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia after the ‘Unite the Right’ rally. We analyze the timing and language used in 32 published responses and discuss implications for sensemaking through social justice leadership in higher education. A percentage of the universities polled published positions statements that provided elements of sensemaking through social justice leadership in the timing of and complexity of the language used in their letters. A majority of the presidential position statements were used to restate the values of the respective university, thus providing a frame for stakeholders to view and make sense of the “violence, hatred, and bigotry” on display.

Authors

• Peggy M. Delmas, University of South Alabama

• Benterah C. Morton, University of South Alabama