Opinion | Daniele Struppa, it's time to step up.

Written by Jeff Pearlman

Photo Courtesy of Chapman Newsroom: Struppa: Santa Claus needs to come to town and bring it.

Almost two weeks ago, after Chapman University was one of 60 schools to receive a threat from the federal government that funds would run dry should they fail to protect Jewish students, outgoing President Daniele Struppa informed faculty and staff that two vice presidents, Norma Bouchard (the chief academic officer) and Reg Stewart (the vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion), were placed on administrative leave without explanation.

Here’s what news editor Nicole Kavros and assistant news editor Emilia Cuevas Diaz wrote in The Panther…

Courtesy of The Panther Newspaper

The student journalists added that, “If the investigation finds Chapman guilty and the university does not take actions to adjust to President Donald Trump’s recent orders, the school is at risk of losing federal funding, according to a press release by the education department.”

In the university’s defense, this is quite the large pickle. Defy the federal government and lose millions upon millions of dollars in funding. Cave to the federal government and concede that your stated commitment toward diversity has all been for naught.

Chapman (sigh) has caved.

Bouchard and Stewart are MIA. Perhaps they’re on a beach in Daytona Beach, Florida. Perhaps they were fed to the sharks. Perhaps they signed 10-day contracts with the Dallas Mavericks. Whatever the case, odds are long (aka: 0%) they ever return to their positions. This whole episode went down in order to show Trump (aka: Dear Leader) Chapman will cave. So Chapman caved — and banished hard-working innocents in Bouchard and Stewart because, hey, collateral damage is a bitch. And, as someone who has served as an adjunct at the school for the past eight years; as someone who loves the town of Orange, loves his students, loves the campus, loves so much about the Chapman experience — I have to wonder, with all sincerity, why Struppa is behaving in such a cowardly, chicken-shit manner.

I mean, he’s in his last few months on the gig. It’s a wrap. His time at Chapman is nearly complete. In his decade behind the big desk, Struppa presided over an expanded campus, over budget windfalls, over growth in myriad areas of academics. He is well regarded and highly respected, and … and … and …

It’s.

Time.

To.

Step.

The.

Fuck.

Up.

Your university is being attacked and dragged through the mud. Your students are looking for leadership. Your faculty is looking for leadership. Yes, there were protests last year. Yes, there was a mixed bag of highs and lows. But … this is academia. Young people not just exercising free speech, but experimenting with free speech. They try things. They say things. Some shit goes well. Some shit goes awfully. It comes with the turf, and has been this way dating back to the Vietnam War (and well before Vietnam). The encampments went too far. But you tried your best, man. You really did. It wasn’t easy. It’s never easy.

But this White House — run by buffoons and cowards who collectively couldn’t match half your IQ—demands obedience and simplicity. They want you to kneel before Zod and kiss the ring. It’s not about Chapman, per se (a place, I’d bet, Trump knows not exists). It’s not even about Israel and Palestine. No — it’s about taking it to the academic “elites.” It’s about showing you who’s in charge. About lowering you.

Struppa, do not let them lower you.

With one foot out the door, you are in a unique position. Tell these assholes Chapman University is a wonderful place that respects free speech. Demands free speech. Tell these assholes that they can take their federal funds and shove it. “If it comes to this” you need to say, “we’ll fundraise our asses off!” Tell these assholes that America isn’t about erasing website biographies of Jackie Robinson and the Tuskegee Airmen and the Navajo Code Talkers — it’s about celebrating them. Celebrating our diversity. Enlightenment. Deep thought. Engagement.

Call a press conference for later this week. Stand behind a podium with the Chapman seal and explain why education matters now more than ever.

You have nothing to lose, Struppa.

Literally, you have nothing to lose.

Step up.

Jeff Pearlman is a current professor at Chapman University, teaching sports journalism. Read his original post HERE and his other articles at thetruthoc.com.

This article and accompanying media were submitted by an independent professor. 

If you are interested in having your work featured in The Panther, reach out to pantheropinions@chapman.edu.