Universities Uninvite African Journalists Due to Ebola Fear

Universities Uninvite African Journalists Due to Ebola Fear


It seems as though Ebola discrimination is continuing to make its way onto university campuses.

Earlier this month, reports surfaced that Navarro College in Texas was denying Nigerian students from attending their school due to the Ebola virus, and now it’s being reported that two southern universities have uninvited African journalists from visiting their school.

The University of South Florida St. Petersburg and the University of Georgia have canceled visitation trips from international journalists from African countries due to Ebola fear. In the case of University of South Florida, 14 African journalists were scheduled to visit the school for three weeks beginning Oct. 31 for the annual Edward R. Murrow Visiting Journalist program. With 100 of the top rising journalists from around the world scheduled to visit and speak about their experience of reporting in another country, the University of South Florida cancelled the trips of only the African journalists.

Following a similar lead, is the University of Georgia who cancelled an Oct. 23 guest lecture from award-winning Liberian journalist, Wade C.L. Williams, after concerns were raised about potentially exposing students to the Ebola virus.

“She was disappointed but greatly understanding,” Charles N. Davis, dean of the Grady College tells the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We will have her here after the crisis is over. We are deeply dedicated and committed to learn from her perspective.”

Williams is an editor for Front Page Africa in Monrovia, Liberia and works in one of the hardest hit West African countries, with close to 2,500 deaths reported this year due to the virus. She says that misinformation is what’s causing paranoia in the U.S., but admits that she is not disappointed with the university’s decision.


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