August 26, 2020

Dear Asia Morales and Members of the USC Marshall MGSA Executive Board

I would like to begin with another deep apology for the discomfort and pain that I have caused members
of our Community. My intent has always been to provide a dynamic, diverse and supportive learning
environment and I recently learned this has not always been the case.

Last Thursday, I integrated an international illustration presented and framed within a specific topical
context in each of three MBA class sections. I have taught the course for ten years and the illustration
was given to me by several international students several years back. The inclusion is part of a deep and
sustained effort at inclusion as I have reached out to find and include many international, global,
diverse, female, broad and inclusive leadership examples and illustrations to enhance communication
and interpersonal skill in our global workplace.

The international example stems from common Chinese Language patterns and the example is the
Chinese word for the word “that” which is an extremely common filler word in the Chinese language. At
the time we were specifically discussion presentation fillers and language differences. I have since
learned there are regional differences, yet I have always heard and pronounced the word as “naaga”
rhyming with “dega.” The transcript of the session records the pronunciation I made as “naga.” My
experience is from years in Shanghai, having not taken language courses. Given the difference in
sounds, accent, context and language, I did not connect this in the moment to any English words and
certainly not any racial slur.

A student reached out to me after my third class session of the day suggesting others may be
uncomfortable with the illustration. I immediately reached out to her and then a second students and
we began to work on finding a replacement. Fortunately, that day we had also previously scheduled
confidential, on-line mid-term course evaluations and I went into the results to further investigate.

Among the student feedback from the three sections were three comments that reference the
particular illustration. When I read them, my heart dropped, and I have felt terrible ever since. I have
tried so hard to deeply support every student at Marshall and to make them feel welcome and valued
and seen. And it was clear in their writing that they were hurt and disturbed by the example.

I reached out to the entire Program in an email to draw attention to the issue and apologize for the
discomfort. The next morning I also showed up in person before the entire Class to again apologize,
recognize the hurt and begin to find a better way for the future. And I was willing to look at whatever I
could do, personally and organizationally, to help the students and their classmates heal.

I very recently learned that there may have been students in previous classes who experienced varying
degree of discomfort with the same international illustration. I had not realized this negativity
previously or I would have replaced the example as we now have. I also apologize for not knowing and
for any pain this may have causes.

Unfortunately messages have circulated that suggest ill intent, extensive previous knowledge,
inaccurate events and these are factually inaccurate. Fortunate we have transcripts, audio, video,
tracking of messages and a 25 year record. I have strived to best prepare students with Global, real-
world and applied examples and illustrations to make the class content come alive and bring diverse
voices, situations and experiences into the classroom. This particular international illustration is a class
example I have received positive feedback when presenting in the past. Yet, I failed to realize all the
many different additional ways that a particular example may be heard across audiences members
based on their own lived experiences and that it my fault.

The international illustration was provided by previous SC students and is from their lived experience in
the Chinese culture and is extremely common in Chinese language. I have since learned the harsh
critique of the illustration has also been felt by some in their community as yet another attack on their
language and culture and it would never be my intent to bring about ill will towards any culture or
society. Rather I believe we should be open to celebrate diverse voices and experiences of life. And I
apologize for the negative attention.

While no derogatory or racial slur was or has even been used, and the example was framed as from
China and in Chinese, and although my intent has been and always will be 100 positive towards every
student, I recognize that I need to get better. And I will continue to learn from, partner with and grow
together with my students in continually working to create a more perfect learning environment.

This is a year that has brought tremendous societal pain and a much broader and badly needed
awakening to the long existing and deep inequities in social and economic justice. And there is a strong
need for greater introspection and awareness by me and all of us to how we all view, frame and
understand the experiences of each other across our society and in all our daily interactions. There are
many wonderful examples of “Good Trouble” that have sprouted up across our society this year and I
strongly support our students who wrote a letter to our administration this last week for giving voice to
their thoughts and feeling to help ensure we learn, provide a strong focus to this important issue, and in
my case, towards building my awareness and enabling me to get better by proactively expose a blind
spot. And I continue to be committed to working to bring all of us closer in learning, sharing and
understand our different life experiences.

As we move forward to build a better and stronger Marshall, I would ask the help of everyone to freely
and openly share their experiences, feelings, ideas and suggestions for improvement in every course and
with every faculty member, staff member, teammate and peer so that we can more fully understand
each other, create greater value in learning about our many different experiences and make Marshall
the best in the World.

Fight On!

Greg

Dr. Greg Patton