Antiracism & the CSUBIOTECH Community

​CSUBIOTECH Antiracism Statement and Response to Theory of Racial Intelligence from CSU East Bay Professor

Anti-racist: someone who has made a conscious decision to dismantle and fight against racism at the structural, institutional and personal levels.​

The California State University, East Bay campus recently found itself in controversy when complaints of an emeritus faculty member teaching a theory that race influences intelligence surfaced. In his theory, ​he asserts that certain Black and Hispanic ethnic groups are not as intelligent as white Europeans and Northern Asians (Hurd). Faculty on the CSU East Bay campus responded to these claims noting the methods, findings and framework that support this theory have been debunked* (Hurd).

Promoting baseless claims is not in keeping with any faculty member's charge of communicating correct, fact-based information in the classroom. Universities historically protect free discourse surrounding uncomfortable and unpopular topics (the chief purpose of faculty tenure), but teaching theories in our classrooms that advance discrimination is harmful to students, especially to members of Black and Hispanic ethnic groups, and should not be tolerated. It is equally harmful when faculty with these values serve on committees that recruit and evaluate faculty as they are likely to show bias to a candidate or faculty of Black and Hispanic ethnic groups. This also should not be tolerated. CSUBIOTECH condemns the promulgation of gross inaccuracies about race in the strongest possible terms.

The East Bay situation may represent a recent high-profile case of racism on a CSU campus, and forces all of us to acknowledge that racism has not been eradicated in the CSU. Only by confronting incidents such as this one (and the many smaller, lower profile incidents that happen each day) will we end racism. This is an especially important goal in University system as large and diverse as the CSU. 

As an affinity group within the CSU system, CSUBIOTECH has a history of engaging diverse students and faculty of all races, genders and creeds in biotechnology education and research efforts. We stand behind the belief and science that diversity and inclusion benefits everyone. When students from underrepresented backgrounds persist in STEM degrees, graduate and enter the biotechnology workforce, it diminishes the equity gaps that are one of the chief consequences of racism and oppression. CSUBIOTECH also supports faculty with programs that equip them to successfully work with our diverse population of CSU students, but we all can and must do more. 

At CSUBIOTECH, we support our faculty and students in their antiracist journeys whether in learning or action. We encourage CSUBIOTECH faculty and students who observe and document systemic racism in their own contexts to actively work to dismantle these systems. We urge the following:​ 

• Actively respond to open or covert racist comments or actions. These include timely written and spoken responses that can be shared widely. Silence implies complicity.
• Encourage your department and college to develop antiracist statements and policies. These should be incorporated into official documents and policies, such as hiring policies and retention, tenure and promotion guidelines.
• Actively engage in training around diversity and inclusion. This includes joining already developed training as well as taking the steps to develop new steps to support the education of others.

We also recognize that some members of our community may be experiencing a range of emotions in relation to this situation. We encourage students, faculty and staff to seek support at their campus counseling or psychological services office. 

As a support to our CSUBIOTECH community, we will use our November CSUBIOTECH Safe Space as a place to openly discuss anti-racism within the CSU and in society at large. We invite you to attend the November CSUBIOTECH Safe Space on Thursday, November 19, 2020 at 2:30 pm. Please register at https://forms.gle/dt3unWtLURH53wum6

“In a racist society it is not enough to be non-racist, we must be anti-racist."
― Angela Y. Davis

CSUBIOTECH Anti-racism website:
https://www.calstate.edu/impact-of-the-csu/research/csubiotech/Pages/Antiracism.aspx 

*References that debunk claims made at CSU EB:
https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/22888 
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/hast.493 

Media source regarding CSU EB:
Hurd, Cheryl “Outcry Over CSUEB Professor Who Teaches Theory of Race Influencing Intelligence." NBC Bay Area, 31 October, 2020, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/east-bay/outcry-over-csueb-professor-who-teaches-theory-of-race-influencing-intelligence/2389193/. Accessed 6 November 2020.