At Howard, Fox Showed Us the Money

Photo credit: Office of Rep. Elijah E. Cummings Howard University President H. Patrick Swygert, left, accepts Fox check along with School of Communications Dean Jannette L. Dates and Congressional Black Caucus Chairman Elijah E. Cummings, D-Md. Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes is at right.

By Editorial Board
The Hilltop, Howard University

Controversy began the second that Fox News handed the Howard University School of Communications a check for $100,000. Almost immediately, people began ranting that Howard University should not have taken money from a network such as Fox, which has been accused of being biased, extremely right-wing, militaristic and racist.

On a National Association of Black Journalists listserve, one professional journalist said, "it is shameful that gutless Howard University would accept money from Fox when they had a golden opportunity to take a stand against the racist pollution this network is guilty of by refusing it -- and citing the reasons why!"

Comparing Fox's Feb. 12 donation with a deal with the devil, many argued that we should not take money from just any source, namely Fox. Even more argued about Fox's agenda and its "ploys" to look less racist by donating to an HBCU.

We believe that accepting money from Fox was a Catch-22.

Anyone who takes a look around Howard University can see that we could benefit from any money. Hence, it would be unwise to refuse a donation. People can debate and argue, but until they write our school a check, it is a little hard to take the criticism.

On the other hand, we cannot ignore the fact that Fox has not had the best track record in being diverse and balanced in its programming.

Ultimately, we cannot refuse the assistance, but we do wonder whether there were any conditions along with Fox's gesture. Nothing in life is free. Everyone has an agenda. So if it is true that Fox gave our school money to help boost its reputation, we wonder what kind of deal we have made. Do we now owe Fox?

Additionally, if Fox were looking for an opportunity to appear to embrace diversity, we implore the network not to stop at a donation and a photo opportunity, but to actually make strides to change its programming and become more balanced.

We do not necessarily see the Fox donation as a bad thing; we just hope that our administration took a hard look at the potential price of accepting that $100,000 check.

Written by the editorial board of The Hilltop at Howard University.

Posted March 1, 2004