Emails concerning "blackface"
Dear Rowan University,
This is a request for public records made under OPRA and the common law right of access. I am not required to fill out an official form. Please acknowledge receipt of this message.
Records requested:
Electronic Mail sent FROM the following senders:
Annette C. Reboli. MD
Jocelyn Mitchell-Williams
Monika Williams Shealey, Ph.D.
Penny McPherson Myers, Ed.D.
Received by: Any recipient inside of or external to Rowan University
Text in subject or body message "blackface" AND "Norcross"
Date range: December 30, 2020 to present.
Yours faithfully,
Brian McBride
Good morning,
The Open Public Records Request (OPRA) you submitted on January 4, 2020 requires additional time beyond the customary 7 business days. Our office would like to respectfully request an additional 15 business days to review your request. I will follow up with you no later than January 27, 2021.
OPRA allows custodians to seek extensions of time according to N.J.S.A. 47:1A-5.i. Specifically, OPRA states that “the requestor shall be advised by the custodian when the record can be made available. If the record is not made available by that time, access shall be deemed denied.”
Thank you for your patience.
Gina O'Neil
Office of Contracting & Procurement
Rowan University | 201 Mullica Hill Rd., Laurel Hall office #207 | Glassboro, NJ 08028-1701
T: 856-256-5172 | F: 856-256-5623 | http://rowan.edu/purchasing
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email communication may contain private, confidential, or legally privileged information intended for the sole use of the designated and/or duly authorized recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient or have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately by email and permanently delete all copies of this email including all attachments without reading them. If you are the intended recipient, secure the contents in a manner that conforms to all applicable state and/or federal requirements related to privacy and confidentiality of such information.
Dear Ms. O'Neil,
The request for an extension of time is reasonable and prudent within the meaning of the law. I respectfully agree. Ass an addendum, I would like to add some names to and revise the date range of the request:
Same key words in the subject and body of the message "Norcross" and/or "blackface"
Same date range through 1/5/2021
Additional personnel (as sender or recipient)
Joanne Connor Chief of Staff and Liaison to the Board of Trustees
Terri Drye Vice President for Human Resources
Joe Cardona Vice President for University Relations
Anthony Lowman Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Steve Weinstein Vice President for Government Affairs and External Partnerships
Ray Braeunig Chief Audit, Compliance & Privacy Officer
Melissa Wheatcroft General Counsel
Dr. Ali A. Houshmand- President
Yours sincerely,
Brian F. McBride
Mr. McBride,
Attached please find Rowan University's response to the below OPRA
request. My contact information is below should you have any questions
and/or comments.
Regards,
Elyse
Elyse G. Crawford, Esquire
Assistant General Counsel
Rowan University
201 Mullica Hill Road
Glassboro, NJ 08028
Office: (856)256-5113
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail communication and any attachments may
contain confidential and privileged information intended for the
designated recipient(s) named above. If you are not the intended
recipient, you are hereby notified that you have received this
communication in error and that any review, disclosure, dissemination,
distribution or copying of it or its contents is prohibited. If you have
received this communication in error, please notify me immediately by
replying to this message and deleting it from your computer. Thank you.
Dear Crawford, Elyse G,
Thank you for your response. I will take you up on the offer to speak by telephone.
Yours sincerely,
Brian F. McBride
Dear Attorney Crawford,
Per our telephone discussion, the request has been fulfilled and the privilege log is sufficient. I appreciate your understanding my belief and position that I was retaliated against by Mr. Tambussi on behalf of George Norcross for raising a diversity related concern in good faith. Retaliation by the Executive Chairman of one of Rowan University's largest hospital affiliates is nothing short of abominable. If they did it to me, how many CMSRU students or faculty have suffered in silence? We know how many suffered at the hands of Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, and Harvey Weinstein. We know how many black men are targeted by police each year. Is Rowan University comfortable sitting on the sidelines in silence while a white man threatens legal action on behalf of another white man because a concern for the rights of people of color was raised? Is Rowan comfortable sitting in silence knowing this man leads a core teaching affiliate of its medical school. Frankly, I was uncomfortable that Rowan University is comfortable. I'm asking you to join the NAACP and take a stand against this behavior.
I appreciate you taking under consideration my request that Rowan University review my Action in Lieu of Prerogative Writ with emphasis on the Tambussi letter. I appreciate you taking under consideration my request that in response to the Tambussi letter that Rowan University send a letter to the NIH and to Judge Telsey condemning the act of retaliation made on behalf of the Executive Chairman of one of the largest affiliate hospitals of the CMSRU. Such an action would show to the Rowan community that retribution taken for raising a diversity concern will not be tolerated. It will also show that Rowan University is committed to the values of diversity inclusion and non-retaliation that it uses in its public facing websites and media. It would also show Rowan University's commitment to protect its students and employees from retaliation in action.
Yours sincerely,
Brian F. McBride