(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) A professor at the State University of New York – Binghamton passed out a syllabus declaring that people of color will be given priority to participate in class.
Ana Maria Candela, professor of sociology, has opted out of the traditional hand-raising method in favor of what she calls “progressive stacking,” reported Red State.
“If you are white, male, or someone privileged by the racial and gender structures of our society to have your voice easily voiced and heard, we will often ask you to hold your questions or comments to give others priority and will come back to you a bit later or at another time,” the syllabus reads.
Candela continued, describing the alleged benefits of this method:
“Those who feel most privileged to speak begin to take the initiative to hold space for others who tend to be more silence in our society grow more comfortable speaking.”
Student Sean Harrigan filed a Title IX discrimination complaint with the college.
“How am I supposed to get a full participation grade if I’m not called on because of the way I was born?” Harrigan said.
After the complaint was filed, the university released a response clarifying that Candela has removed mention of progressive stacking from her syllabus and is now compliant with the Faculty Staff Handbook.
In an interview with the New York Post, Harrigan said Candela “routinely equates capitalism to slavery during lectures.”
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “The sociology department scares me.”
According to Harrigan, “a professor in a different class on ‘nonviolent compassionate communication’ encouraged him against choosing America as an example of a compassionate nation.”
Candela has not made any public comments about the changing of her syllabus.