Tutu gets it right - refuses invite unless St Thomas reinstates Toffolo

The archbishop refuses to come to campus unless professor's demotion is reversed.    

 

Nobel peace laureate Desmond Tutu says he will not accept an invitation to speak at the University of St. Thomas unless a demoted professor is reinstated as director of the university's peace and justice studies program.

"I will make an acceptance on my part dependent on your reinstatement and the clearing of your file," the Anglican archbishop wrote to Cris Toffolo, who was dismissed from her position on Aug. 1 following a dispute over whether Tutu should be invited to speak at the St. Paul campus.

The Rev. Dennis Dease, the university president, reversed himself two weeks ago, apologizing for barring Tutu, and issued an invitation to Tutu to speak at a campus forum.

Doug Hennes, a university spokesman, said Tutu informed Dease on Monday of his position.

"Archbishop Tutu sent an e-mail to father [Dease] thanking him for his letter in which he said he made the wrong decision and he praised him for being willing to take that position," said Hennes. "And he also said he would be happy to visit the campus, but on the condition that Prof. Toffolo be reinstated and any negative remarks about the incident be removed from her academic file."

 

I wrote earlier that Tutu should decline this invitation; however he is using his visit as leverage to right the wrong done to Prof. Toffolo, wise man!