This letter is a response to a column by Matt Farmer that appeared in the Feb. 17 edition of The Post under the headline "OU's history curriculum could use some diversity." You can read that column here.
In his opinion column published in The Post on Feb. 17, political science and education major Matt Farmer expressed his frustration that much of the history department’s curriculum is, as he puts it, “very white.” He proceeded to express a concern that by focusing more strongly on Western civilization courses, and overlooking other areas of the world, the history department was helping to reinforce “the false notion that Americans and Europeans are most worthy of in-depth study.”
Members of the history department applaud Farmer’s desire to learn more about parts of the world beyond the United States and Europe and his recognition of how important acquiring that knowledge is to today’s students. But we would like to invite Farmer, and other students who might share his perception of the department, to consider whether this impression might not have more to do with students’ choices of courses than the curricular shortcomings of the department.
The history department is strongly committed to providing students with a diverse curriculum that addresses the history of all peoples and regions of the globe. Just in the past two years, the department has hired four new faculty members who specialize in the history of the parts of the world Farmer would like to learn about: Africa, China, the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In the fall of 2014, the department will offer courses on the history of early modern Africa, women in Africa, modern Middle East, modern Asia, Vietnam, early modern and modern Southeast Asia, colonial Latin America and Mexico. Additionally, Farmer and other students might consider taking courses on Ohio history, the history of the American South, medieval Spain, Jewish history, U.S. women’s history, among others, which will also be offered this coming Fall Semester. Although the title of these courses may suggest the geographical area of focus is the U.S. or Europe, the content clearly explores the history of diverse ethnic, racial and gender groups.
Finally, Farmer should know that the George Washington Forum was not created by the history department but is the initiative of a few faculty members who are affiliated with that program. His concerns about the GWF’s conference and lecture series should be addressed to the forum itself.
Still, we recognize that the issue Farmer brings up is one that members of the Ohio University community as a whole must consider. Ohio University has a strong tradition in area studies. Our undergraduate and graduate programs in African, Asian, and Latin American studies are well-recognized and have continuously attracted international students to campus and promoted greater diversity of knowledge and academic debate. Yet there is room to strengthen and expand the presence of area-focused programs, courses and research on campus. Farmer’s comments highlight that the continued investment in courses, faculty lines and research in areas beyond the U.S. and Europe is a real necessity if Ohio University is to continue its long-standing tradition of forming knowledgeable and engaged global citizens.
Michele Clouse, Mariana Dantas, Katherine Jellison, Jaclyn Maxwell, Assan Sarr, Brian Schoen, Miriam Shadis and Mirna Zakic are current full-time faculty members of Ohio University’s Department of History. Marvin Fletcher is a retired faculty member of the history department.
