Yesterday morning, President Steger sent an e-mail to the university listserv. In his e-mail, Steger addressed the issue of discrimination. He mentioned two complaints made by minority students that had already been filed.
It ends with the Virginia Tech Principles of Community, which states that all forms of prejudice and discrimination on campus will not be tolerated.
The specifics of the recent complaints and the exact judiciary actions that are taken after an offense were not detailed.
While an e-mail is a practical way of reaching students and faculty, it is impossible to know how many students actually read the entire text. The effectiveness of this method should be questioned if the administration takes the subject as seriously as it says.
What influences students' perspectives and challenges their ideas are the relationships they form and their interactions with other people, not e-mails sent from faculty most students have never met. It is a matter of personal responsibility and ideologies.
Still, there is no morally right way to tell someone how to think or feel, even if we believe their words and actions cultivate hatred. While it is difficult to accept, it is simply not possible to force someone to change their prejudice. Any changes must come internally.
It's a paradox in and of itself.
So what can the university - and we as students - do to encourage acceptance and tolerance without overstepping the boundaries and pushing opinions on someone else?
We challenge ideals. Not just another person's, but our own as well. Not only ones concerning discrimination, ether; the ability to rationally and openly discuss ideas, thoughts and feelings leads to a greater understanding of the society and people.
If the university was interested in actively ending discrimination on campus, it could try numerous methods that would open discussions to all students, not just select groups.
Student organizations do their part with outreach and diversity programs and events, but they cannot force people to attend their events or accept the messages they are trying to spread.
The administration could simply offer one credit hour classes that solely exist to talk about perceptions of other students or people and grades on participation and attendance.
Instead of sending e-mails that simply say discriminatory remarks aren't tolerated, it should outline a specific punishment, such as a conduct referral or suspension. While this doesn't help to change the ideas behind the action, it might help prevent verbal slurs used in a threatening or derogatory manner.
Prejudice comes in all forms and will never be completely uprooted. However, how we think of someone's ethnicity, lifestyle or religious views is very different from what we make them feel.
The editorial board is comprised of Debra Houchins, Peter Velz, Sara Mitchell and Bethany Buchanan
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I didn't read the whole email. People here are diverse and that includes some that use words that make others feel uncomfortable or make jokes that some think aren't funny. Instead of suspending students for this, we should embrace the differences and try to learn from them rather than kick them out of school because they are different. That is prejudiceist
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I agree with anonymous below, the problem is we are setting rules based on a vocal, overly sensitive, minority of society. Most of us don't care but there are people out there that desperately want to be a victim and now we have to watch what we say. They have made racism the "Scarlet Letter" of the 21st century. If you're offended by someone's comments, especially if they are jokes, get over it. If you disagree with what someone says, call them out and have a discussion, don't be a sniveling taddle tale that runs to the administration because you don't have a pair.
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How about the CT editorial board approaches administration with a realistic plan to set up such a 1-credit hour class instead of writing about it. Administration has little way of knowing the level of student interest in such an idea if they are presented with itin the appropriate channels. And by the way, if you haven't figured out that e-mail is an official notification channel, get with the program.
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Whoops, meant to say "such an idea unless they are"
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Wow, anonymous, wake up and smell the roses. WHy don't you try being a minority and seeing how it feels to hear racist and prejudicial remarks? I do not blame the victims for reporting the incidents at all. I don't think you have the right to call any minority "overly sensitive." Discriminatory remarks and actions not only offend the person involved, but it saddens and upsets myself as a member of the "majority" that people would treat one another is such an ignorant way. Sounds like you're exactly the kind of person that has no respect for anyone that is different from yourself.
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Laura I believe you misinterpreted what i said so I will clarify, when I referred to overly sensitive minority I wasn't talking about race or even gender. I was talking about a small segment of our population that tries constantly to be a victim and cries racism/sexism etc. for the slightest of offenses. I'm talking about a mentality not a specific group and yes they are overly sensitive. It sounds like your part of the problem Laura, heres a tip next time someone upsets you talk to them, don't cowardly run to the administration because someone made you feel bad. You don't have a right to not get your feelings hurt sweety, but everyone does have the right to express their opinion. It's time for you and the cowards in that story to grow up and be an adult.
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