Last Thursday, during the autumn convocation for the Class of 2006, former Congressman Phil Crane addressed the assembled students, staff, faculty and guests of Hillsdale College. His remarks struck many as offensive, as he made several derogatory comments against the French people and government.
Associate Professor of French Marie-Claire Morellec, a native of Bretagne, said she felt the remarks did not line up with the purpose of convocation nor with the purpose of college.
“It’s in a church,” she said. “It is an assembly where we honor [students and professors]. I didn’t think it was appropriate to that. It’s supposed to convey the same values that we put into our teaching. We’re not teaching to have inappropriate language about other nationalities and others in general.”
“Phil Crane is a wonderful man, and he’s been supportive of the college since his matriculation,” college President Larry P. Arnn said. “He was immediately sorry that he caused offense. It was lucky that I found out about it and could talk to him. He certainly did not mean any harm by it.”
Arnn said that upon hearing that some were offended, Crane wrote a letter of apology in which “he boasted of his own French ancestry.”
After the convocation luncheon, Arnn met Morellec in her office and delivered Crane’s letter of apology.
“This was very quick action on the part of the president, it was important to feel welcome again and confirmed in my role as a faculty member at Hillsdale,” Morellec said.
“I dont want any of our faculty members to be wounded by what is said in public,” Arnn said.
“Had I been there or not, these words would have been inappropriate,” Morellec said.
She added “everyone is entitled to a mistake--this was a mistake but it was corrected immediately.”
Morellec said she accepted Crane’s hand-written apology.
“I was pleased that Mr. Crane apologized, but I was more pleased that Dr. Arnn came to talk to me.”
“I’m very concerned that ill will be thought of Phil Crane,” Arnn said. “There will be failings, but what is required is working hard to have a better understanding, apology and forgiveness.”