The case of Paul Barrows is only the latest in a series of embarrassments for the University of Wisconsin’s efforts to promote diversity. Barrows, the former UW-Madison vice chancellor for student affairs, was portrayed as guilty as regents, legislators, university officials and the press tried him before gathering evidence.
Officials jumped to the old racist stereotype that African-American men have one thing in mind: taking sexual advantage of white women. Partly because Barrows’ picture was so prominently displayed, very few regents or legislators bothered to question whether the sexual harassment allegations were true.