Tonya Olson, who served on staff from 2002-2007 (after I attended), has posted an open letter alleging that the program's leadership caved to political pressure from an Arizona-based right wing organization. They first prohibited a few movie screenings and book assignments, and then things began to escalate:
I've written an open letter here to Tom Winton (DPI Director of Governor's School, twinton@dpi.state.nc.us) and Mary Watson (Director of Exceptional Children, which houses Governor's School, mwatson@dpi.state.nc.us). Email them if, like me, you're outraged by this!!!!
Tom and Mary:
I was deeply disheartened to read of recent troubles at the Governor's School Program. As an alumni of the program (GSE Class of 2000 in Natural Science), I remember an experience that was incredibly moving and important for me as a young gay man. I was 17 at the time, and still struggling to find a place in North Carolina as an openly gay person.
In particular, I remember seeing the film "Ma Vie En Rose" at the event, which wholly transformed my ideas about sexuality and gender. The film is brilliant, if you haven't had the chance to see it, and I remember other students being challenged and informed by the beautiful and touching story.
This is why I was particularly troubled to read an open letter from Tonya Olson, who joined the faculty in 2002 and was -- it seems -- fired in 2007 without much comment, apparently the result of Olson's commitment to showing such provocative material.
This is unacceptable. Governor's School was a chance for students to engage new ideas. First and foremost, I remember constantly being asked to broaden my understandings of any subject at hand. Music, science, the arts -- whatever. The point is to push boundaries.
The Pope Foundation (who it seems helped to spark the charge for conformity at Governor's School) has a long history of bullying academic institutions into complacency. When I was a student at UNC Chapel Hill, they were well known for hiring students to "monitor" allegedly "suspicious" professors and the classes they taught. This is outrageous. It's not just mean-spirited, it's outright disgusting and anti-intellectual.
You and your organization should take a stand for what Governor's School was -- and what it was meant to be. As a doctoral student at the University of Michigan and a future professor, I understand better than ever the mission and goals of Governor's School. Don't let that vision be tarnished by an ultra-right wing bully organization.
I do hope that you will take better care of this program in the future. It has the potential to do great things, and to nurture great minds. Please keep that in mind when making decisions about its future.
Sincerely,
Trevor Hoppe
Graduate Student
Joint PhD Program
Sociology and Women's Studies
University of Michigan
I find the censorship appalling.
That said, I attended the North Carolina Governor's School in 1982 and also found it appalling.
For the full critique see my online article at
http://rebirthofreason.com/Articles/Setzer/North_Carolina_Governors_School_Experience.shtml