AAS slips statement on West appointment

The African-American studies program inadvertently released a statement yesterday congratulating Harvard University professor Cornel West GS '80 on accepting a position at Princeton, Vice President for Public Affairs Robert Durkee '69 said.

Noliwe Rooks, associate director of the African-American studies program, confirmed last night that "it was just a mistake."

"We have been preparing for the day when we could announce that Cornel West is coming back to Princeton," Durkee said. The quote was part of a testimonial being prepared by University spokeswoman Marilyn Marks during the past few weeks, he said.

The statement quoted Colin Palmer, director of the African-American studies program, and said, "We salute Prof. West on his decision to return to Princeton."

The University has been involved for several months in recruiting additional African-American studies professors amid a discussion of whether the program should be turned into a department.

The African-American studies program was preparing a statement in case West were hired, Rooks said, because Palmer will be traveling during coming weeks and may not be able to be reached.

An Associated Press reporter telephoned the African-American studies program, and an administrative assistant accidentally read the Palmer quote to the reporter, Durkee said.

The assistant "thought that something had happened, that had not happened," Rooks said.

Durkee said the University has had an offer out to West since last year. Last fall, reports surfaced of West's discontent with statements made by Harvard president Lawrence Summers regarding the University's commitment to diversity and West's own academic contributions.

Rooks said she did not know of any plans to hire West in the immediate future. But she added, "Everyone's really supportive of his coming back."

West previously served as chair of the University's African-American studies program before leaving for Harvard in 1994.

The University continues to try to attract West and other African-American studies professors, both Durkee and Rooks said.

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The "ball is in [West's] court," Durkee said.

Rooks said the University has run a "concerted and aggressive effort" this year to attract African-American studies professors.

During the last two years, the University has added more than 10 professors who will teach courses or have interests in the African-American studies program, Durkee said.

Because a professor cannot be appointed to the African-American studies program, the University has "encourag[ed] departments as they make decisions to also be looking for people who will be interested in African-American studies."

The University has made offers to several professors that have not yet been accepted, Rooks said, "but we have high hopes that they will."

Durkee said he did not know of any other offers to African-American studies professors at Harvard, which rules out for now the hiring of Henry Louis Gates Jr., the chairman of Harvard's African-American studies department.

In January, the University appointed K. Anthony Appiah, African-American studies professor at Harvard, as a professor in the philosophy department and in the Center for Human Values.

Appiah's appointment and the discussion surrounding West are not related, Durkee said, because appointment decisions originate within departments. West would join the religion department.

The recruitment of African-American studies professors in recent months has spurred questions about whether the program should be granted departmental status.