Hate crime spurs workshop on diversity and race
Christina Faust
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: News
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The workshop was also prompted by letters written by both the Black Student Union and Latinos Unidos about their concerns about the status of students who diversify the campus and the lack of tolerance for diversity at NDNU.
On Oct. 27, a mass of students and faculty members poured into Ralston Hall, filling all available seats. Dr. Raymond Jones stood in front of the large group greeting familiar faces and introducing himself to those he was meeting for the first time.
Jones put together a short introduction pertaining to his experience of growing up during the '50s and then showed a short slide show.
He began, "Somewhere in America, every week at least one hate crime happens on a college campus."
Students and faculty members turned silent and listened for the next statistic. "Somewhere in America, every week a cross is burned."
More shocking statistics followed. Jones clearly got everyone's attention.
The workshop served as a safe place for an open dialog among students, faculty and staff where they could voice their experiences, opinions, and concerns regarding hate in and outside of the NDNU community.
President John Oblak thanked everyone for showing up. He then spoke briefly about some of his past experiences witnessing bigotry. He noted a time when he received a phone call from an enraged parent regarding the diversity of the campus.
The parent said, "You probably have homosexuals teaching at that school" and he quickly responded, "Well, how do you know that I am not homosexual?"
The entire room chuckled, as Oblak finished his short anecdote, "There was a long silence on the phone, and then the conversation ended. To outrageous statements like that, we must react."
After Oblak spoke, Jones brought everyone's attention to the three questions on their tables.
On each of the circular tables were three questions accompanied by some notepaper. The questions referred to a bigoted name or phrase that each table was given and asked to discuss. When each group revealed their given term to the whole, many cringed at the words they were hearing. Some of the names and phrases were "dyke," "go back to Mexico" and "go back to Hawaii."
Each group discussed the first question, "How might this incident affect the people directly involved: the target, the perpetrator and any witness?"
Then the second question, "How might this incident affect the health of the community (business, school, family, etc) where it happened?"
Many argued that the health of the campus would greatly be affected because, without diversity, all possible points of view and valued experiences would not be represented on the campus. The purpose of the university is to educate, they said, and without variety it would be difficult to fully thrive in such an institution.
The final question read, "What are the emotional, social, and physical costs of incidents like these?"
While speaking in groups, Sister Pat McGlinn noted, "That if we all looked the same, ate the same foods, and dressed the same, how boring our world would be."
Many agreed that the overall health of the school is in jeopardy. Incidents as strong as hate crime should serve the NDNU community as a wake-up call. Many said they always believed members of the campus community were beyond bigoted remarks and close-mindedness, but it's clear that something needs to be done.
Alternative ways of handling hateful and bigoted remarks were noted throughout the workshop. Jones referred to the "I" statement, and many students nodded in agreement until a faculty member shared his story.
He agreed that using such a civil statement is a good idea, but there are occurrences when, "the aggressors deliberately try to offend you, and then corner you. They want to fight you."
He also told that he had spent three days in the hospital. The room was completely silent; a majority of students in attendance had no idea what this man had to battle throughout his life.
Another attendee's adamant response of her disgust with the past occurrences on campus argued, "Our school is so small, and we all have ownership of this university. When you hear something that does not belong here on this campus, you need to say, 'this is my school and you can't say that here!'" A long applause followed.
The goals set for this conference were to prompt students, faculty, and staff to say something when hateful is said or done. Attendees were asked to talk about things, speak up and confront inappropriate comments and behaviors right when they occur.
Jones added that, "Social movements are geared up by individuals and then organized by groups."
From the dialog members of the NDNU community were called to action. Each attendant was asked to sign a neon pink piece of paper a as a pledge to speak up.
In signing the document attendees promised to, "Speak up when they hear or see bigotry; question and identify bias when they see it; be mindful of their own behaviors; promote and appeal to higher principals; set limits on what is said or done around them; seek help and help others to work against bigotry; and remain vigilant and persistent."
Jones said his reason for having the attendees read and then sign pledge rather than just taking it home and forgetting about it, was that signing the document would allow its meaning to better absorb into their minds.