Provost Adrienne McCormick publicly apologized to retired Library Dean Mark Herring Friday afternoon. McCormick sent a letter to faculty and staff, apologizing
for an email sent to the campus community that condemned Herring’s remarks in a column titled, “The Wuhan WIldings,” and for authorizing the column’s removal from the Digital Commons.
“While I did not name Dr. Herring in my email, I did point out that certain language in the column could be perceived by some as offensive. I realize that sending the email across campus was inappropriate. I apologize to Dr. Herring for sending the email and for any embarrassment it caused him personally or professionally,” McCormick wrote.
“I take full responsibility for my actions and any unintended consequences that have ensued. Via this email, I extend my sincere apology to Dr. Mark Herring.”
The apology follows a board of trustees meeting on Aug. 26. Speakers at this meeting included Congressman Ralph Norman and Senator Wes Climer who defended Herring’s remarks and called on McCormick to issue a public apology.
Norman said the removal of Herring’s column was wrong and a “violation of our First Amendment right.”
“The actions taken by the Provost against a fellow colleague is not only a violation of our First Amendment right given to us in our constitution but it goes against the mission statement of Winthrop University which encourages diversity and free exchange of ideas and thought for all students,” Norman said. “…For Dr. McCormick not to have apologized publicly to the faculty is totally unacceptable.”
The column in question referred to COVID-19 as the “Wuhan virus” and “Kung Flu.” It was these terms that were considered “ethnically offensive,” as McCormick said on May 14 in an email to the Winthrop community.
“Recent remarks by a member of our academic community—ina now-deleted online column and on Twitter—included comments that may be viewed as ethnically offensive relating to the COVID-19 virus. These remarks do not reflect the spirit of Winthrop’s mission and do not represent the views of Winthrop University,” McCormick wrote.
The issue of academic freedom and free speech was also discussed at the board meeting. Larry Byrd of The Fort Mill Oak Initiative said that conservative and
liberal professors should be treated equally and “different ideas need to be taught.”
“I am a veteran and a South Carolina taxpayer, and I expect all students to be given the opportunity to learn in an environment of academic freedom,” Byrd said.
On Aug. 25, the board passed a resolution “affirming free speech at Winthrop University.”
“[T]he ideas of different members of a campus community will often and quite naturally conflict, but it is not the proper role of an institution to shield or attempt to shield individuals from ideas and opinions they find unwelcome, disagreeable, or even deeply offensive,” the resolution states. “Therefore be it resolved, the Board has a solemn responsibility not only to promote a lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation, but also to protect that freedom when others attempt to restrict it.”
