The student isn't saying that the text is racist, rather that the graphic could be used out of context. (I can think of a ~lot~ of things that would be damning if taken out of context -- not a compelling argument, to me.) Here is the entire article from this week's (Nov 13) Community College Week: ******************************* Student Protests Controversial Text Pendleton, Ore. -- A Blue Mountain Community College student says administrators have not discontinued use of a psychology textbook he found racially discriminatory, as they had agreed to. Michael Nathan, 48, of Hermiston, has dropped out of school, saying he is disappointed the book was still in use. "They promised in writing they would stop using the book," he said. "When they didn't do it, it was slap (sic) in my face." Nathan, who is black, said the school agreed last spring not to use the textbooks this fall. The books are still in use, but will be replaced during the winter term, said Nicki Harrington, president of the community college. Under the terms of the agreement, Nathan received $10,000 and was given free tuition for the spring term. He would have received free tuition for the fall and winter terms had he continued taking classes. The book is the 1999 edition of Introduction to Psychology written by Rod Plotnik. In one section, the text describes the work of a 19th century scientist who believed that blacks had smaller brain sizes than other races. A graphic that accompanies the text shows four skulls in descending size: Caucasian, Mongolian, Native American and black. The text explains that modern science makes no distinction between brain size and race, but Nathan said the graphic could be used out of context to promote racist ideas. ******************************* -- Sue Frantz [EMAIL PROTECTED] Assistant Professor of Psychology Office: (505) 439-3731 New Mexico State Univ - Alamogordo Fax: (505) 439-3802 Alamogordo, NM 88310 http://alamo.nmsu.edu/~frantz
