California State University, Dominguez Hills
University of Wisconsin, Parkside
Latest update: April 8, 2000
Faculty on the Site.

Comments on Structural Violence within the Academy

A Local Narrative by Roger Gleim, CSUDH

On Friday, 07 Apr 2000 Roger Gleim wrote:

I just want to quickly tell you about a structural violence experience from last week which actually didn't allow me to attend your lecture.

I got a notice in the mail saying that I was put on academic probation and that it didn't look good for me right now. I was asked to see the dean about it, yet I couldn't see why. I first went to the admissions office to see whether it had been because of a class that I had once (a year ago) forgotten to withdraw from (it got me an F). But admissions could't figure it out because I received good grades last semester. They sent me to the dean, claiming that only he could remove it at this point.

First it took me half an hour to find his offices. Then there was no one there; then the ones that were there weren't responsible, and I ended up talking to a secretary. She said that she couldn't see why I was put on probation either, and that she felt I should go back to admissions.

Basically, to make a long story short, I got the runaround. All they could tell me is that I wouldnt be able to register now, and that it was serious. Eventually, one week later, the vice president took the hold off, claiming it was an administrative mistake. The thing got resolved, but the energy I had to spend getting the runaround! Structural violence at csudh!

On Saturday, April 8, 2000, jeanne responded:

Roger, I am delighted that you recognized the problem as structural. I am horrified that it took us a week to straighten out the error, and yes, I agree, that to place a student in such a limbo, with no clear sense of how to handle the problem, is, in fact, structurally violent. I do hope the vice president who removed the hold recognized the harm and the violence and reflected our concern for what happened.

I am really sorry you had to miss the class, because your recent contributions are so helpful to our discussions. At least I've learned this semester and last, that absence should not carry with it structural violence. You will find that I have begun catching up on the site, by putting up summaries of our discussions. They're on my schedule. And because we have added distance to our interaction, you can still contribute to these discussions. You've made me very conscious of how difficult it is for us to avoid structural violence in a bureaucracy.

In response to your recent comment on the structural violence of negating someone's efforts by refusing to hear them in good faith, I put up Comments on Structural Violence this morning. We need to think on how this relates to your recent experience. I think that awareness and a forum in which to express that awareness are important pieces of the answer.

jeanne