Responses to the Federal Election

In response to the recent presidential election, many educational institutions and various organizations have published letters expressing their thoughts and opinions on the outcome.

Dean Marilyn Flynn of the USC Suzanne Dworack-Peck School of Social Work published an “Open Letter to Faculty, Students, Alumni and Friends of the School (http://bit.ly/2fV4B2r).”

While Flynn states in the letter that, “There is hope,” she also states, “In all of these efforts, I ask that we remain conscious of the separation between personal and professional roles. Faculty and students must insist on, and demonstrate, mutual respect for differing responses to the election in our classrooms both on campus and in the Virtual Academic Center.”

Jennifer Collins, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and alumnus of the USC program disagreed with the latter statement. She penned an open letter to Dean Flynn (http://bit.ly/2fY1JSN), and the school community. She writes, “I came up with a question I wish I had asked eight years ago: Is it ethical for a professional and educational institution to condone social workers’ decision to be on the side of oppression and discrimination?”

Collins believes: “While we as social workers are challenged to understand and address problems such as misogyny, xenophobia, and white supremacy while working with clients, we are under no obligation to tolerate these same evils among our colleagues.”

The community letter is signed by social workers and members of the community. To read the letters click on the links included above.