THOMAS

Clarence Thomas as commencement speaker elicits negative response

By: JOANN ANDERSON

Posted: 4/21/08

Clarence Thomas, a United States associate Supreme Court justice, will be the keynote speaker at graduation on May 10, according to Tom Jackson, vice president for public affairs.

Thomas, who was born in Pinpoint, Ga., was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1991 by President George H. W. Bush. Prior to serving on the Supreme Court, Thomas was on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.

He also has served as chairman of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and as assistant secretary for civil rights in the U.S. Department of Education.

"Clarence Thomas is only the fifth native Georgian ever to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, and is one of our nation's most distinguished jurists," University President Michael Adams said in a news release issued Friday.

The process for choosing a graduation speaker includes a committee that presents proposals every year for graduation speakers, Jackson said in a phone interview Sunday.

Some University faculty are concerned about the choice for Thomas as a graduation speaker.

"From the reactions I've seen in e-mails shooting around from faculty members, there's a reaction that ranges from surprise to infuriation," Janet Frick, associate professor of psychology, said in a phone interview Sunday. "Many would consider him a divisive figure because of his voting record and the past allegations of sexual harassment with Anita Hill."

"What a slap in the face this is to everyone who has been working to bring to light the realities of sexual harassment at [the University], and to establish appropriate methods and offices for addressing this significant problem on our campus," Chris Cuomo, director and professor of women's studies and professor of philosophy, wrote in an e-mail Sunday.

During Thomas' confirmation hearings to become a Supreme Court justice in Oct. 1991, a leaked FBI report alleged that Thomas had sexually harassed law school professor Anita Hill when the two were colleagues at the Department of Education and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Hill testified during Thomas' Senate confirmation hearing.

Thomas strongly denied the allegations during the hearings.

He took his seat as the 106th associate justice of the Supreme Court later that month, after a 52-48 Senate vote.

The controversy increased the discussion about sexual harassment across the United States.

"How can we hope to build a more positive culture together when our own leaders believe it is appropriate to honor someone who represents the ability of men in power to derogate the claims of women and to abuse of those who speak out about harassment?" Cuomo wrote. "Why should our graduating women students be made to listen to an unapologetic sexual harasser on a day that should be filled with pride, and with the feeling that their futures are full of promise?"

Jackson said he could not comment on the matter, but said, "We should be honored to have an associate Supreme Court justice speak at the University."

Read sexual harassment coverage from The Red & Black here