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Standout [340]
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Why renaming buildings doesn't work, and is bad precedent
Jun 13, 2020, 6:04 AM
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HR Director: So I guess that leaves us with two candidates. How do you guys feel?
Tom: Well, if you don’t mind me going first, I personally think Bob Tillman suits us better. I really like the experience he has. James was good too – solid. But we’ve all basically said that holding them up against each other allows you see that Bob is just slightly, but noticeably better qualified. I think he fits right in.
HR Director: Lisa? What’s your thoughts?
Lisa: Well…. I mean… I didn’t really want to say anything…
HR Director: Oh no, go ahead. This is an important hire for us, and we need all inputs.
Lisa: Well, to be frank, Bob Tillman gives me a bad feeling.
HR Director: Really?.... huh, I didn’t pick up on that myself, but why?
Lisa: Well… again, let’s make sure…. You asked me, right?
HR Director: Absolutely. What’s going on?
Tom: Yeah, Lisa. This doesn’t sound like you…
Lisa: Well… see, when I went to college there was this Building there. It was named after a well-known figure in history and all, but it turns out the guy was really, really Racist. Not just basic White Supremacy stuff, real lynchings, and hate crimes. He killed lots of black people and had slaves. It was bad. There was a lot of uproar about it. Every time I walked by that building after that I got a really bad feeling. Just like someone was looking at me, making me feel like I wasn’t a real person or something, and like I didn’t even belong at that school. It was so bad I started walking the long way to class so I didn’t go by that building anymore. But I still knew it was there. I still knew what it stood for.
HR Director: I’m so sorry Lisa. I am sure that was an awful experience. If you would want to share with us more you can, or if we need to talk privately, I am certainly happy to do that as well.
Lisa: No… that’s OK… I mean, nothing really ever happened. I liked the school in general, the profs and everything. It was just that… that building.
Tom: Hmm… I’m sorry…. I guess I don’t get it. What does a building have to do with our current hire?
Lisa: Well… they’ve got the same name. I mean, it’s almost exactly the same name. I just don’t feel comfortable with a person called “Bob Tillman”. I was hoping you all would move us in another direction with another selection as things went on, but now ...
HR Director: Well, OK… this puts us in a bit of a bind. We’ve excluded most of the other possibilities, and one possible took another job yesterday. So that would only leave us with one candidate, being James. Is that what you’re suggesting?
Lisa. {pause} well… yes.
Tom: Hold on. What you’re saying is that you want to exclude this guy just because of his name? Are you aware of anything that he has actually done that would support your feelings? Has he done anything to you, or said anything to you that was inappropriate?
Lisa: No… no, nothing like that. It’s just how I feel.
Tom: But Lisa… you have to know that’s simply in your head. It’s not real…. Well unless you act on it. Then it becomes real and fast, for Bob, at least.
Lisa: I’m just telling you how I feel… that I wouldn’t feel comfortable working with someone with his name. It conjures up too much bad association.
Tom: Lisa; I’m sorry. But you have to understand how this sounds. I mean, you can’t get “racism” from an inanimate object… a pile of bricks. Objects don’t confer hate or anything else. I think they call that to “anthropomorphize” or something. Plus, there’s no connection of this guy to those events that happened over 75 years ago. It’s just his name, for crying out loud.
Lisa: Hey, I’m just telling you how I feel. It doesn’t work for me. I haven’t even appreciated this process.
Tom: I’m sorry Lisa but that doesn't make sense. Those might be your feelings, but they aren’t real…
HR Director: {cutting in} OK, hold on now Tom…. Lisa’s feelings have to count. You need to back down some, and now. {pause} Lisa… I’m concerned that you’ve not appreciated this process. It was meant to provide inclusiveness for all. It wasn’t meant to make you feel uncomfortable or attacked somehow. We need to get together after this meeting is over and make sure you’re OK here. For now, I’m tabling this discussion. I think we could all use a break, and go off and think about things further. Tom, I’m going to ask you to try to put yourself in Lisa’s shoes, and feel what she felt. You know, really empathize about what happened back then. Lisa, give me 15 and then let’s you and I reconvene. I want to hear more about how you felt during this process, and how you think it affects the new hire……
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Team Captain [471]
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Standout [340]
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actually my example is built around real life events
Jun 13, 2020, 8:04 AM
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it's already happened.
Personally I don't care what a College President has been maneuvered into doing, nor do I care what a great QB and WR want o say about problems beyond their education, and quite frankly, experience. But you know, you go on with the Politics as usual. That's the way to do it...
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Scout Team [160]
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Re: Why renaming buildings doesn't work, and is bad precedent
Jun 13, 2020, 8:02 AM
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I'm guessing OlMike59 (who joined yesterday) spends all his time trying to figure out how to get back to 1959. Doesn't like change. Does it scare him?
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Replies: 3
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