RACHEL JOHNSON
Assistant Perspectives Editor
Oprah Winfrey’s Leadership Academy for Girls didn’t need any more setbacks. When Winfrey began discussing the the plan to build the school in South Africa, she was criticized for wanting to spend money abroad instead of using it to combat problems at home in the United States. Now Winfrey’s school is under scrutiny again, as allegations have been made that some of the young South African women enrolled in the institution have been assaulted and abused by local school administrators.
Winfrey spent $40 million to create the leadership academy in South Africa. The boarding school opened in January 2007, providing free education for close to 150 seventh and eighth grade girls. This week’s issue of People Magazine reported that on the day of the school’s opening, the talk show host proclaimed, “This is everything I have ever worked for.”
Though the creation of the school was a noble act, Winfrey met resistance to the development of the institution. Most notable was Newsweek reporter Allison Samuels’ article that questioned whether the extravagant amount of money spent on the school could have been divided up more evenly to create numerous schools throughout South Africa instead of just one that only caters to 150 students. Samuels cited examples of non-essential luxuries provided by the school like the 22 acres the school sits on, the yoga studio the girls can use and the beauty salon where the girls can make appointments; instead, she wrote, the money should be more equally distributed to help more people.
Other critics and numerous bloggers criticized Winfrey for building such an elegant institution in the middle of an impoverished nation, claiming that such an act was “elitist” and an attempt to show off her wealth. Many also wondered why Winfrey would build such an incredible establishment in another country when so many American children go without a good education.
The criticisms for Winfrey’s school were understandable but unwarranted. The talk-show host, whose program has earned her hundreds of millions of dollars, has the right to spend her money however she pleases, just like everybody else. Creating the school was a fantastic way to give young South African girls with leadership potential the ability to acquire the skills they need to succeed.
Now Winfrey’s school has come under fire again. Investigators won’t release all of the details, but People reported that police spokesman Lungelo Dlamini confirmed that there were reports of abuse. Though police declined comment, rumors are circulating that some students may have been sexually and physically abused. “People” also reported that a dorm parent (Pepperdine equivalent to a Resident Director) has been fired from his or her position and Head of Academy Dr. Nomvuyo Mzamane was put on paid leave.
More criticism is sure to arise, particularly from those who disagreed with the construction of the school in the first place. Granted, the issue is newsworthy but it’s also just downright sad. It is so disheartening that in the midst of Winfrey’s attempt to do something beneficial to others, people are willing to do things to thwart her ambitions.
Instead of focusing on criticizing Winfrey, writers and bloggers—if they need to criticize something—should focus their attention on the faculty members of the school who are serving an injustice to their students.
The blame should not be on Winfrey; it should be on the teachers and administrators who are soiling her name by their alleged cruel actions.
11-08-2007
