Racism and prejudice are unacceptable
Issue date: 3/17/05 Section: Editorial
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In Boston, one of the most liberal cities in the country, Emerson is known as a progressive institution where people from all over the world come to study communications and the arts. The college's reputation as a welcoming community has already faced some criticism, but nothing threatens its reputation in the way that the act of hatred committed on campus this week has. This past Sunday two students returned from their spring break to find racist slurs written on the board on their dormitory door. While the staff of this newspaper is deeply saddened by this display of racism and ignorance, we are not surprised.
What is most appalling about the racist graffiti is that it is not an isolated incident. When the members of the class of 2005 were freshmen in 2001, a similar incident occurred. These hate crimes cannot be tolerated. This campus must learn to be more open-minded and tolerant.
In an effort to promote diversity, the college created the Center for Diversity in 2004. The center facilitates events such as the Campus Conversations on Race in order to combat racism and promote a more accepting community. While this effort is helpful in opening a dialogue, it is not enough. The entire college must participate in an open conversation about this problem. There should be a discussion in every classroom and every dormitory common room. All members of the Emerson community should be involved.
In a city where the nonwhite population has risen to more than 50 percent in the last several years this institution is decades behind the diversity represented around it. Less than 125percent of Emerson students are students of color compared to other area colleges this number is disappointing. Emerson's faculty also lacks the diversity of other institutions.
The only realistic way to deal with the ignorance that breeds hatred is through the active recruitment of a student body that represents the city it lives and learns in. By diversifying the racial makeup of the college students will be able to learn from each other and face their own prejudices. This is the only way to really make a difference.
After all, according to Emerson's mission statement, its core values are "freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, cultural awareness, integrity, civility and the responsibility of ethical choice."
What is most appalling about the racist graffiti is that it is not an isolated incident. When the members of the class of 2005 were freshmen in 2001, a similar incident occurred. These hate crimes cannot be tolerated. This campus must learn to be more open-minded and tolerant.
In an effort to promote diversity, the college created the Center for Diversity in 2004. The center facilitates events such as the Campus Conversations on Race in order to combat racism and promote a more accepting community. While this effort is helpful in opening a dialogue, it is not enough. The entire college must participate in an open conversation about this problem. There should be a discussion in every classroom and every dormitory common room. All members of the Emerson community should be involved.
In a city where the nonwhite population has risen to more than 50 percent in the last several years this institution is decades behind the diversity represented around it. Less than 125percent of Emerson students are students of color compared to other area colleges this number is disappointing. Emerson's faculty also lacks the diversity of other institutions.
The only realistic way to deal with the ignorance that breeds hatred is through the active recruitment of a student body that represents the city it lives and learns in. By diversifying the racial makeup of the college students will be able to learn from each other and face their own prejudices. This is the only way to really make a difference.
After all, according to Emerson's mission statement, its core values are "freedom of expression, diversity of perspective, cultural awareness, integrity, civility and the responsibility of ethical choice."