Despite the recent turmoil and disagreements between the administration, faculty and students, last Thursday marked the decision of a unified University to stand up against injustice and intolerance.
The Academic Senate unanimously passed the "Resolution Condemning Hate Crimes Against Members of the Campus Community" on Thursday, Oct. 29.
For the last few weeks, unidentified people have been ripping "Safe Zone" stickers off of Professor Robert McNamara's office door. The "Safe Zone" stickers are a part of a program whose mission and design is to "maintain a network of informed faculty, staff and students who will be visibly supportive of students, staff and faculty who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning."
"While I can take care of myself, I'm concerned about the campus climate on LGBT issues for student and strongly encourage the Diversity Council and Senate Ad-Hoc Diversity Committee to consider this issue," wrote McNamara in an email to the listserv "Senate-Talk" on Thursday, Oct. 23 after having his "Safe Zone" sticker torn down for the fifth time.
Many faculty members and administrators responded supportively to McNamara's sentiments during the last couple of weeks and also demanded that something be done to correct these hateful acts of vandalism.
"I join in the condemnation of these attacks on our colleague Robert McNamara, and the calls for the Academic Senate, Diversity Council and Ad Hoc Diversity Committee to respond to these acts in the strongest terms," wrote Professor Catherine Nelson in an email on Oct. 23. "We think we are an enlightened community, but when something like this happens we learn again just how much we have left to do."
What troubles me is that these anti-queer acts are all happening in the midst of a very important presidential election and an extremely controversial Proposition. The increase in homo phobic actions can easily be linked to debates around Proposition 8. So, what is going to happen when the results are released? If even a "liberal" campus cannot be a safe place for ALL people, where should students turn? It is imperative that we have safe havens for all of SSU's students, and soon.
Although I believe that we have a long way to go to achieve our goals of diversity and safety for all students, I am proud to go to a University where hateful acts of vandalism are confronted and condemned. I am also proud to have a University President who will answer calls for help from faculty, staff and students.
"I was disturbed and disheartened to hear of the anti-gay discrimination acts directed towards Professor Robert McNamara and others," wrote President Armiñana in an email to the campus community.
"Whether the persons involved in these activities are aware or not, these are hate-crime acts and are completely unacceptable, particularly on a college campus that strives to teach tolerance and inclusiveness."
By bravely asserting that the acts of vandalism were HATE-CRIMES, Armiñana took a gigantic step in the right direction to correct these recent events.
Armiñana also announced that he requested for Police Services to "intensify their investigation."
Senate Chair Scott Miller and Senator Catherine Nelson put together the "Resolution Condemning Hate Crimes Against Members of the Campus." It was also co-sponsored by the Senate Ad-Hoc Diversity Committee.
The resolution not only condemns the recent acts of vandalism, but also commends Armiñana for his public condemnation and "strongly urges" the President's Diversity Council (PDC) and the Ad-Hoc Diversity Committee to "give this matter their immediate and full attention."
Co-chair of the Ad-Hoc Diversity Council Barbara Lesch McCaffry attended the Senate meeting last Thursday and assured the body that this matter is a top priority for the committee to look into and change.
ASI President Derek Pierre also shared with me that ASI is currently drafting a response to the hate-crimes as well.
A university-wide condemnation of these acts is an absolute necessity in matters such as these. Therefore, I strongly encourage the students to join the administration and faculty in publicly condemning the recent hate-crimes, perhaps also in the form of a resolution.
I am confident hate-crimes such as these will decrease substantially if and only if the faculty, administration, staff, students, and Police Services remain united on this serious issue. We must always strongly assert that hate-crimes will never be tolerated on our campus.
While last week's Senate meeting was a prime example in the power of a united university battling injustice, I would like to send a "reminder" to the administration regarding items such as the PDC and the 16-unit cap: When the students are not being sufficiently represented, and when the faculty does not have a voice in your important decisions, we NO longer have a University.
Until next time…
Be the first to comment on this article!