Who is Being Targeted in the Investigation of Racism at St. Louis Public Radio?
On 8/10/20, Paul Herring, Vice Chancellor of Advancement at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL), announced via email that Dr. Tanisha Stevens, Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UMSL would be partnering with outside council to conduct an external investigation of the diversity, equity and inclusion practices at St. Louis Public Radio.
Dr. Stevens hosted several sessions for staff as part of this process. These sessions covered the scope and potential outcomes for the process, but did not include much information about the specific goals of the investigation or who specifically was being investigated.
On 8/18/20, Dr. Stevens announced via email that attorneys Kate Nash and Aigner S. Carr of Tueth Keeney (www.tuethkeeney.com) would begin gathering information regarding concerns at the station. She stated, “My hope is that you will feel comfortable in sharing information that will prove valuable to the investigative process.”
On 8/21/20, Herring reiterated Dr. Stevens’ sentiments via email: “we hope that each of you will feel comfortable in sharing any information of value during the investigative process.”
On 8/24/20, Dr. Stevens clarified via email that: “The role of the investigative team is to assist the University by investigating concerns brought forth in the letter dated July 1, 2020 (and subsequent equity concerns discovered during the course of the investigation) in order for the University to make appropriate recommendations/determine action steps to those identified concerns and allegations.” She stated, “As you make your decision on whether or not to participate in the university’s investigative process, I would like to assure you that the investigative team, attorneys Kate Nash & Aigner S. Carr, of Tueth Keeney (www.tuethkeeney.com) were selected to conduct the external review because of their experience not only working with institutions of higher education but also their experience in investigating workplace concerns/work environment (Attorney Kate Nash has been involved in this work for 18 years). Additionally, the University is fully committed to ensuring that individuals feel heard during the investigative process as well as ensuring that each investigation is conducted in a timely, thorough and impartial manner.” She added again, “My hope is that you will agree to participate in the investigative process. Please contact my office directly as we are currently scheduling appointments for this week. Thank you.”
To our knowledge, only four people have been individually contacted to participate in the investigation. Three are Black women who remain employed at the station.
On 9/4/20, Herring stated via email to members of the STLPR newsroom: “It has come to my attention that — to date — your collective participation in the investigation of the diversity, equity and inclusion practices at St. Louis Public Radio has been limited. Moving forward and beginning next week, all members of the newsroom will be required to participate in the interview process led by attorneys Nash and Carr. It is necessary that your voices are heard to ensure the integrity of the investigative process and its outcomes.”
We believe that requiring participation in this investigation may lead to retaliation for speaking up about racism at the station. Why is participating in the investigation only mandatory for newsroom employees? Why aren’t the senior leadership team or other staffers (e.g. development) being required to participate?
Why was participation in the investigation optional from 8/10 to 9/4, but required now? What changed? What are they trying to find?
Please help us ask these questions by calling Paul Herring at (601) 325–5351 and emailing him at paul.herring@umsl.edu.
—
You can find the email correspondence regarding the UMSL investigation below (emphasis added).
From: “Herring, Paul” <paul.herring@umsl.edu>
Date: Aug 10, 2020 6:33 PM
Subject: St. Louis Public Radio — all staff message
Dear members of the St. Louis Public Radio staff,
As you are aware, Dr. Stevens is coordinating a review and has already hosted the first discussion of the week in relation to this effort. However, I wanted to share the formal statement below with each of you to acknowledge this effort has launched:
Today, the University of Missouri–St. Louis announced an external investigation of the diversity, equity and inclusion practices at St. Louis Public Radio in response to concerns of station employees. This will include an evaluation of policies, practices, procedures and structures related to inclusive excellence at the station. Dr. Tanisha Stevens, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion at UMSL, will coordinate this effort in partnership with outside counsel.
I want to thank each of you for your steadfast commitment to St. Louis Public Radio and for your participation in this important process. Pease [sic] note the schedule for the rest of the week: [REDACTED]
Sincerely,
Paul
Paul Herring
Vice Chancellor of Advancement
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Office: (314) 516–4278
Mobile: (601) 325–5351
—
From: “Herring, Paul” <paul.herring@umsl.edu>
Date: Aug 18, 2020 10:49 AM
Subject: Message from the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Sent on behalf of Dr. Tanisha Stevens:
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -
St. Louis Public Radio,
I would like to thank you for your participation during the open sessions held last week. The conversations that took place and the feedback regarding the direction of the investigation has proven extremely valuable in shaping the scope of the process moving forward.
Beginning this week, attorneys Kate Nash and Aigner S. Carr of Tueth Keeney (www.tuethkeeney.com) will begin the process of gathering information regarding the concerns at the station. My hope is that you will feel comfortable in sharing information that will prove valuable to the investigative process. Additionally, throughout this process, I will remain in regular contact with Ms. Nash and Ms. Carr.
To begin the investigation and assist in the facilitation of interview times, I will be reaching out to several individuals directly based on our conversations. However, I also recognize that there are others who may have information that should be included in the investigation and ask that you contact me directly at smithtn@umsl.edu.
Once again, I thank you for your willingness to participate in this process.
Sincerely,
Tanisha
Tanisha Stevens, PhD (she, her, hers)
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
University of Missouri-St. Louis
127 Woods Hall
One University Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63121–4400
smithtn@umsl.edu
—
From: “Herring, Paul” <paul.herring@umsl.edu>
Date: Aug 21, 2020 11:41 AM
Subject: Update
Dear members of the St. Louis Public Radio staff,
As you know, the Tueth Keeney law firm began its investigation of the diversity, equity and inclusion practices at St. Louis Public Radio this week. As Dr. Tanisha Stevens has shared before, we hope that each of you will feel comfortable in sharing any information of value during the investigative process. Additionally, Dr. Stevens and I met with the Friends of St. Louis Public Radio on Wednesday to provide an update and overview of the process. The Generation Listen Leadership Council shared a letter [attached] during this meeting expressing its concerns. Lastly, effective immediately, there will be an across the board hiring freeze for any new or open positions at St. Louis Public Radio until the investigation process has come to resolution.
Sincerely,
Paul
Paul Herring
Vice Chancellor of Advancement
University of Missouri-St. Louis
St. Louis, MO 63121
314–516–4278 Office
601–325–5351 Cell
—
From: “Herring, Paul” <paul.herring@umsl.edu>
Date: Aug 24, 2020 6:02 PM
Subject: Message from the Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Sent on behalf of Dr. Tanisha Stevens:
— — — — — — — — -
St. Louis Public Radio Newsroom,
I have been asked to facilitate an investigation of the concerns recently reported at the radio station. Therefore, we are reaching out directly to individuals who have knowledge about this matter. Given that your participation is essential to the process, we are extremely hopeful that you will agree to meet with the investigative team.
I understand that there may be a concern in regards to the process that may prevent individuals from engaging in the investigation. The role of the investigative team is to assist the University by investigating concerns brought forth in the letter dated July 1, 2020 (and subsequent equity concerns discovered during the course of the investigation) in order for the University to make appropriate recommendations/determine action steps to those identified concerns and allegations.
As you make your decision on whether or not to participate in the university’s investigative process, I would like to assure you that the investigative team, attorneys Kate Nash & Aigner S. Carr, of Tueth Keeney (www.tuethkeeney.com) were selected to conduct the external review because of their experience not only working with institutions of higher education but also their experience in investigating workplace concerns/work environment (Attorney Kate Nash has been involved in this work for 18 years). Additionally, the University is fully committed to ensuring that individuals feel heard during the investigative process as well as ensuring that each investigation is conducted in a timely, thorough and impartial manner.
My hope is that you will agree to participate in the investigative process. Please contact my office directly as we are currently scheduling appointments for this week. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Tanisha
Tanisha Stevens, PhD (she, her, hers)
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
University of Missouri-St. Louis
127 Woods Hall
One University Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63121–4400
smithtn@umsl.edu
—
From: “Herring, Paul” <paul.herring@umsl.edu>
Date: Sep 4, 2020 1:46 PM
Subject: Newsroom Participation
Members of the St. Louis Public Radio newsroom,
It has come to my attention that — to date — your collective participation in the investigation of the diversity, equity and inclusion practices at St. Louis Public Radio has been limited. Moving forward and beginning next week, all members of the newsroom will be required to participate in the interview process led by attorneys Nash and Carr. It is necessary that your voices are heard to ensure the integrity of the investigative process and its outcomes.
Sincerely,
Paul
Paul Herring
Vice Chancellor of Advancement
University of Missouri-St. Louis
Office: (314) 516–4278
Mobile: (601) 325–5351
