Professor Watchlist

Dr. Elizabeth Boltz Ranfeld is a former English professor at Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, as well as a self-described “intersectional feminist.”

During a rant on her personal Tik Tok, Dr. Ranfeld justified segregation because white people create segregated spaces “by default.”

Her comments came on the heels of the Christian university’s announcement that “listening sessions” would take place that spring. Each session will allow students to share their experiences with racism in a “safe space;” the events are racially segregated, with each session designated for either white or students of color.

Students at the university took to social media to express their discontent, writing how they are embarrassed to witness their university host racially segregated meetings.

So Anderson University is holding racially segregated listening sessions and meetings now??? As a student that attends Anderson University this is extremely embarrassing and upsetting . It’s 2022 I can’t believe this kind of stuff still goes on. pic.twitter.com/ycK6c9yni7

— Maya Turner (@MayaaTurnerrr) April 12, 2022

 

The President of the University—John Pistole—defended the sessions claiming that they are the university’s attempt at “Christ-centered racial reconciliation.”

“This survey from the task force is a part of a larger project to achieve our mission of being an informed community. The collected data and feedback will directly shape the next projects and resources the university generates for the next school year,” he said. “This effort is an honest attempt to gather information to promote Christ-centered racial reconciliation.”

In her response—titled “When white people get upset about affinity groups existing,” Dr. Ranfeld defended not just the spaces, but segregation itself. She stated that most spaces are white “by default” which justifies black-only spaces.

“White people do this thing where we create spaces and are a part of spaces that are white only not by statute, but by default – so circumstances allow a space to continue to be white only even though there’s no rule that says white only.”

Turning her attention to white students, Dr. Ranfeld mocks them for harboring hurt feelings. She further accuses them of only opposing the segregated spaces out of fear of being criticized.

“Then you end up with these protests over segregation that are really about white people’s feelings of getting, one, excluded from a space and, two, worrying that people are going to say mean things about them in that space and they’re not going to get to defend themselves.”

The full clip may be viewed below.

@lizboltzWhen white people get upset about affinity groups existing.♬ original sound – LizBR

Although the Spring 2022 semester was Dr. Ranfeld’s last with the university, she will continue to teach via the online website, Outschool.com, on which she offers a variety of courses for students aged 12-15. She has further written articles for the sites Salon and Everyday Feminism, arguing that you can be healthy at any size.

The Professor Watchlist Team reached out to Dr. Ranfeld for comment but have received a response by the time of publication.

 

Students and Parents may contact Anderson University at (864) 231-2000.

 

Updated – August 10th, 2022